Conduct Disorder 475
thority figures (e.g., parents, teachers, work supervisors). The behaviors of oppositional
defiant disorder are typically of a less severe nature than those of individuals with conduct
disorder and do not include aggression towa rd individuals or animals, destruction of
property, or a pattern of theft or deceit. Fu rthermore, oppositional defiant disorder in-
cludes problems of emotional dysregulation (i.e ., angry and irritable mood) that are not in-
cluded in the definition of conduct disorder. When criteria are met for both oppositional
defiant disorder and conduct disord er, both diagnoses can be given.
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Although children with  ADHD often exhibit
hyperactive and impulsive behavior that may be disruptive, this behavior does not by it-
self violate societal norms or the rights of others and therefore does not usually meet cri-
teria for conduct disorder. When criteria are met for both ADHD and conduct disorder, both
diagnoses should be given.
Depressive and bipolar disorders. Irritability, aggression, and conduct problems can
occur in children or adolescents with a majo r depressive disorder, a bipolar disorder, or
disruptive mood dysregulation disorder. The behaviorial problems associated with these
mood disorders can usually be distinguished from the pattern of conduct problems seen in
conduct disorder based on their course. Spec ifically, persons with conduct disorder will
display substantial levels of aggressive or non-aggressive conduct problems during peri-
ods in which there is no mood disturbance, ei ther historically (i.e., a history of conduct
problems predating the onset of  the mood disturbance) or concurrently (i.e., display of
some conduct problems that ar e premeditated and do not occur during periods of intense