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Conduct Disorder

DSM-5 criteria - repetitive violation of others’ rights or major age-appropriate norms.

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1 What is the Conduct Disorder?

The Conduct Disorder is a psychosocial scoring tool used in paediatric practice. DSM-5 criteria - repetitive violation of others’ rights or major age-appropriate norms. It scores 15 criteria and interprets the total across 2 bands, so the number always arrives with the severity it implies rather than on its own. In PediAid each criterion is shown as a labelled option with the weight it carries, so the total can be checked rather than taken on trust.

2 When to use it

  • Grading severity at the bedside in psychosocial
  • Recording an objective severity band in the case notes
  • Deciding when a total crosses the threshold for escalation
  • Re-scoring to track whether a child is improving or deteriorating
  • Checking the exact criteria of a score used infrequently

3 Formula & method

The score sums 15 criteria: Bullies, threatens or intimidates others; Initiates physical fights; Used a weapon that can cause serious harm; Physically cruel to people; Physically cruel to animals; Stolen while confronting a victim (mugging, extortion); Forced someone into sexual activity; Deliberately engaged in fire-setting with intent to cause damage; Deliberately destroyed others’ property (other than fire); Broken into someone’s house, building or car; Lies to obtain goods/favours or to avoid obligations ("cons"); Stolen items of nontrivial value without confronting a victim; and 3 further criteria. Totals are then banded: any score - Below threshold: fewer than 3 criteria in the past 12 months; 3 criteria met or more - Threshold met: ≥3 criteria in the past 12 months, with ≥1 in the past 6 months, supports conduct disorder. Specify childhood-onset (<10 y) or adolescent-onset.
  • DSM-5 threshold: 3 or more of the 15 criteria listed.
  • A diagnosis also requires clinically significant distress or impairment, the required duration, and exclusion of substance use or another condition. Screening aid only - not a diagnosis.

4 Frequently asked questions

How many criteria does the Conduct Disorder use?

15. They are Bullies, threatens or intimidates others; Initiates physical fights; Used a weapon that can cause serious harm; Physically cruel to people; Physically cruel to animals; Stolen while confronting a victim (mugging, extortion); and others.

What do the bands of the Conduct Disorder mean?

The total is interpreted as: any score - Below threshold: fewer than 3 criteria in the past 12 months; 3 criteria met or more - Threshold met: ≥3 criteria in the past 12 months, with ≥1 in the past 6 months, supports conduct disorder. Specify childhood-onset (<10 y) or adolescent-onset.

Does the score replace clinical judgement?

No. It is a structured way to record and communicate severity. A clinician concerned about a child should act on that concern regardless of the total.

Where does this score come from?

DSM-5 threshold: 3 or more of the 15 criteria listed.

Does it work offline?

Yes. Score definitions are bundled with the PediAid app, so the score computes without a connection.

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For qualified clinicians. This page and the PediAid app are a clinical aid only. Calculations and reference data must be verified against the patient's clinical context, the source guideline and your local protocols before any treatment decision is made.