Key Takeaways
- Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and conduct disorder can both cause aggression.
- Left untreated, both conditions can lead to negative health and behavioral consequences in the short and long term.
- While parents may be frustrated while dealing with their child’s ADHD or conduct behavior, they can learn proven techniques to lessen both conditions’ symptoms.
Though attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and conduct disorder have some similarities, they are different mental health conditions. But around 30% to 50% of children with ADHD also have conduct disorder. And certain children have a higher chance of having either condition or both. For example, boys are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than girls.
Research shows that children with conduct disorder might have impairment in their brains’ frontal lobe. This can make it harder for kids to plan, avoid harming themselves or others, and learn from negative experiences. While having either or both conditions is challenging, learning more about them can empower you to seek help for your child so they can thrive.
What’s the difference between ADHD and conduct disorder?
At one point or another, you might wonder if your child has ADHD. This is normal, especially if they can’t sit still or struggle with controlling themselves. But this could just be typical kid behavior.
Similarly, you may have read about conduct disorder and worry that your child’s outsized aggression might mean they have this condition. It can be easy to find yourself in a tailspin about your child’s mental health because you want the best for them. While it’s easy to succumb to this cycle, it can be more empowering to instead learn how each condition can show up.
ADHD is divided into three types: inattentive, hyperactive, and combination (shows both inattentive and hyperactive symptoms). Here’s what each looks like:
A child with inattentive ADHD may:
- Be easily distracted
- Seem like they’re ignoring instructions
- Forget to do everyday activities, like chores
- Lose everyday possessions, like homework, toys, and clothes
- Seem to have trouble listening even when someone is talking directly to them
- Make frequent mistakes on homework or be unable to concentrate on details
A child with hyperactive ADHD may:
- Be restless and wiggle in their chair or play with their hands or feet
- Struggle with playing or completing an activity quietly
- Talk a lot
- Interrupt their teacher frequently
- Struggle to wait their turn, like during a classroom activity
- Interrupt or interfere when other people are interacting, like during a conversation or game
- Seem to have endless energy
Children with conduct disorder can display a pattern of aggressive behavior and cause harm to others, including animals. They also usually don’t care about how their behavior affects others. The condition usually crops up during late childhood or early adolescence. If a kid develops conduct disorder before age 10, they usually engage in more physical aggression and violence.
Conduct disorder can look like:
- Lying, stealing, and tricking others
- Damaging property
- Showing aggression toward people or animals
- Breaking rules
- Using substances in unhealthy ways
- Engaging in risky sex
- Expressing no regret for their behavior
- Having trouble making and keeping friendships
Does ADHD cause aggressive behavior?
You might be wondering if ADHD can cause aggressive behavior in kids. The short answer is yes. In kids with the combined ADHD type, 50% were found to have clinically significant aggression. But, while aggression is a big feature of conduct disorder, ADHD doesn’t cause the condition.
Experts can’t definitively say what causes either ADHD or conduct disorder. But the conditions share risk factors that can increase the chance that someone will have both. For example, if a parent exposes their child to substances like cigarettes or alcohol during pregnancy, their child is more vulnerable to developing both ADHD and conduct disorder.
Just like with ADHD, boys are more likely to have conduct disorder than girls. In fact, boys are twice as likely to have the condition.
Kids with both ADHD and conduct disorder can struggle in school, such as with reading. However, ADHD doesn’t impair the skills needed to read. Rather, the condition makes it difficult to learn these skills because focus can be a challenge with ADHD. With conduct disorder, it’s not clear what can make literacy difficult. It could be that conduct disorder causes children to engage less in school or that it’s actually more difficult to learn to read. Or both factors could play a role.
Both undiagnosed ADHD and conduct disorder can lead to serious health consequences. For example, untreated conduct disorder can develop into a personality disorder or a substance use disorder as an adult. Kids with undiagnosed ADHD can struggle with friend and family relationships and fall behind in school.
A qualified health provider can diagnose either or both conditions. They may talk with your child’s teachers to get a sense of how your child acts in school. This can help them determine if their behavior meets the criteria for ADHD or conduct disorder.
Solutions for co-occurring ADHD and conduct disorder
As a parent, you have more influence over your child’s behavior than you might think. This is where parent training can come in. This training helps parents lessen unwanted or destructive behaviors in their kids, like with ADHD and conduct disorder. You can find programs that are one on one or with other parents.
For kids younger than six, experts recommend that parent training be a first attempt before ADHD medication. However, ADHD medication can also be effective. It’s best to talk to your child’s provider about whether medication may be the right approach.
Anger management is something else to consider when it comes to conduct disorder. This training can help your child recognize their angry feelings and control their reactions.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help with both ADHD and conduct disorder. It can teach a child to recognize unhelpful or untrue thoughts that might lead to conflict and aggression.
Peer group therapy is also a recommended option to help treat conduct disorder. It focuses on cultivating social and interpersonal skills.
Find care with Rula
It can be challenging to parent a child with both ADHD and conduct disorder. Both conditions can cause aggression, along with other symptoms. But there are solutions that work to reduce this behavior.
With Rula, you can easily choose a therapist to help you or your child develop healthy coping skills and improve your overall well-being. Psychiatric services for medical management are also available. In just a few clicks, you can find a qualified healthcare provider as soon as tomorrow.
