Overview of Conduct and Oppositional Defiant Disorders and Examination of a Mentoring Program as an Additional Treatment Dimension
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Authors
Sheets, Carrie
Issue Date
1997
Type
Thesis
Language
en_US
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
Oppositional Defiant Disorders (ODD) and Conduct
Disorders (CD) account for the majority of diagnoses given to
children in the United States. CD is characterized by
persistent patterns of disruptive and aggressive behavior,
and ODD is identified by repetitive defiance of authorities.
While these disorders have been researched extensively, many
questions remain unanswered. The exact etiology is still
unknown; however, research suggests that ODD and CD are
caused by the interaction of various genetic and
environmental factors. The high rates of comorbidity of CD
and ODD with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder,
Depression, and Substance Abuse complicates research and
treatment efforts and makes the ODD and CD diagnostic
categories heterogeneous. Consistently effective treatments
have not been found; however, the most successful treatments
address each specific type of symptom, provide intervention
in multiple settings (e.g. school, home, community), and
begin early.
I helped establish a mentoring program for four
adolescents being treated for ODD and comorbid disorders at
the Child Guidance Clinic in Kalamazoo. Each youth was
paired with a college student who shared a similar interest
(e.g. art, computers) and they worked together on various
activities related to that interest. Some improvement in
behavior at home and school and increases in GAF scores were
observed, which may be due to involvement in the program.
Description
iv, 62 p.
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