DSM-IV Diagnostic Criteria

According to DSM-IV Diagnostic Criteria for Conduct Disorder, conduct disorder can have one of three overarching characteristics: Firstly, negative patterns of behaviour are recurring and continually infringes upon the basic rights of others, violates major age-appropriate societal norms or break rules. These behaviours should be manifested by the presence of three or more of the criteria listed in Table 1 below in the past 12 months. In addition, at least one criterion should be present in the past six months. Table 1 below gives a brief description of these criteria.