Disruptive Behavior Treatment (Child & Adolescent) is defined as the treatment of youth with a diagnosis of a disruptive behavior disorder including Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), Conduct Disorder, and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), or youth without a diagnosis who are exhibiting similar behaviors. Common symptoms may include arguing and refusing to obey rules, frequent defiance of authority, aggression towards people and animals, destruction of property, lying, theft, failure to take responsibility for bad behavior or mistakes, regular temper tantrums, hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity. In Oppositional Defiant Disorder, the rules broken are usually those in the family and the school, while in Conduct Disorder, the rules broken include the regulations and laws made by society. In Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, there is a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that is more frequently displayed and is more severe than is typically observed in individuals at comparable levels of development.The CEBC has evaluated only replicable programs that do not use medication as an essential component of treatment. The Pharmacological Treatments for Children and Adolescents with Mental Health Disorders page has links to reputable organizations that list information on medications used to help treat children and adolescents with disruptive behavior and other disorders.
Downloadable Topic Area Summary
Disruptive Behavior Treatment (Child & Adolescent) is defined as the treatment of youth with a diagnosis of a disruptive behavior disorder including Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), Conduct Disorder, and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), or youth without a diagnosis who are exhibiting similar behaviors. Common symptoms may include arguing and refusing to obey rules, frequent defiance of authority, aggression towards people and animals, destruction of property, lying, theft, failure to take responsibility for bad behavior or mistakes, regular temper tantrums, hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsivity. In Oppositional Defiant Disorder, the rules broken are usually those in the family and the school, while in Conduct Disorder, the rules broken include the regulations and laws made by society. In Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, there is a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that is more frequently displayed and is more severe than is typically observed in individuals at comparable levels of development.The CEBC has evaluated only replicable programs that do not use medication as an essential component of treatment. The Pharmacological Treatments for Children and Adolescents with Mental Health Disorders page has links to reputable organizations that list information on medications used to help treat children and adolescents with disruptive behavior and other disorders.
Downloadable Topic Area Summary
Families with maladaptive interactions resulting in at least one youth aged 6-18 years with externalizing (e.g., substance abuse, delinquency, truancy, bullying) and/or internalizing (e.g., depression, anxiety) symptomatology
Caregivers (biological parents, foster parents, kinship caregivers, etc.) of preadolescents (ages 8-12) and adolescents ages (13-19)
8 to 14 year old children whose aggression puts them at risk for later delinquency
11-18 year olds with very serious problems such as conduct disorder, violent acting-out, and substance abuse
Parents of children/youth 2-18 years of age with disruptive behaviors such as conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and anti-social behaviors
Adolescents 11 to 18 with the following symptoms or problems: substance use or at risk, delinquent/conduct disorder, school and other behavioral problems, and both internalizing and externalizing symptoms
Youth, 12 to 17 years old, with possible substance abuse issues who are at risk of out-of-home placement due to antisocial or delinquent behaviors and/or youth involved with the juvenile justice system and their parents/caregivers (some other restrictions for youth exist, see the Essential Components section for more details)
Children in grades Pre-Kindergarten through 6th
Children ages 2.0 - 7.0 years old with behavior and parent-child relationship problems; may be conducted with parents, foster parents, or other caretakers
7 to 14 year olds with behavioral problems, particularly children who struggle to handle disappointments, frustrations, or problems calmly
Universal populations (all children) including those with more serious behavior problems and/or cognitive challenges
Boys and girls, 12-17 years old, with severe delinquency and/or severe emotional and behavioral disorders who were in need of out-of-home placement and could not be adequately served in lower levels of care, and their caregivers
For parents and caregivers of children and adolescents from birth to 12 years old with moderate to severe behavioral and/or emotional difficulties or for parents that are motivated to gain a more in-depth understanding of positive parenting
Children ages 4-14 who experience oppositional episodes and their parents
Children and adolescents aged 10-18 who have severe emotional and behavioral problems (e.g., conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder) and frequently co-occurring problems such as depression, alcohol or drug use, chronic truancy, destruction of property, domestic violence, or suicidal ideation; program also has been used with teenagers with less extreme behaviors and serves both youth in the community and returning home from an out-of-home placement
High-risk youth in public, private, and alternative schools, and in residential settings, including juvenile corrections
For children, ages 7-11, and their family members (ages 0-99)
Preschool foster children aged 3-6 years old who exhibit a high level of disruptive and antisocial behavior which cannot be maintained in regular foster care, or who may be considered for residential treatment, and their caregivers
Parents and caregivers of children with disruptive behavior between 3 and 12 years of age; can be used with parents and caregivers of children without disruptive behavior between 3 and 12 years of age as a preventive or early intervention
Children ages 3-10 who experience disruptive behaviors, depression, anxiety, trauma symptoms, aggression, and co-occurring internalizing and externalizing problems impeding holistic development
Aggressive and violent adolescents, 13 to 18 years of age
Children ages 3-10 who are experiencing social, emotional, behavioral and relational problems
Parents of children ages 3- 8 with behavioral, emotional, social, or attachment disorders
Children and adolescents (ages 3-21) with a variety of behavioral challenges, including both externalizing (e.g., aggression, defiance, tantrums) and internalizing (e.g., implosions, shutdowns, withdrawal) who may carry a variety of related psychiatric diagnoses, and their parents/caregivers, unless not age appropriate (e.g. young adult or transition age youth)
Youth 11-18 years of age and their family members of all ages (including siblings)
Parents of children ages 4-12 years who are defiant or who may qualify for a diagnosis of oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)
Families and referred children who are at-risk as a result of family conflict, lack of parenting skills, child abuse, childhood emotional issues, disruptive behavioral problems including criminal misconduct and other at-risk situations children, parents, and families face.
Parents of children (age 3-8 years old) who are noncompliant and have related disruptive behavior/conduct problems
Low- and middle-income 4-12 year old students, including African-Americans, Caucasians, Hispanic, and Asian populations
Caregiver and child age 1-10 years who has or is at high-risk of developing behavior problems or who is adjusting to a new home or family situation
Families with children at risk for or with behavior problems, substance abuse problems, or delinquency
Boys ages 6 to 11 years old with disruptive behavior problems and their parents/caregivers
Children 3-8 years of age
Parents/caregivers of young children (ages 3-6 ) in higher risk families or who are exhibiting high rates of conduct problems, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or developmental delay
Teachers of children 3-8 years of age and the children in their classroom
Children at high-risk of conduct problems beginning at age 6-7 (1st grade) through age 15/16 (Grade 10)
Parents of children with an intellectual disability who display difficult behaviours
Parents of what are collectively referred to as "strong-willed," or out-of-control adolescents and older children (11-17 years old), including children diagnosed with Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Conduct Disorder, and most children diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. The program has also been used with adult children still living in the home.
Families with maladaptive interactions resulting in at least one youth aged 6-18 years with externalizing (e.g., substance abuse, delinquency, truancy, bullying) and/or internalizing (e.g., depression, anxiety) symptomatology
Caregivers (biological parents, foster parents, kinship caregivers, etc.) of preadolescents (ages 8-12) and adolescents ages (13-19)
8 to 14 year old children whose aggression puts them at risk for later delinquency
11-18 year olds with very serious problems such as conduct disorder, violent acting-out, and substance abuse
Parents of children/youth 2-18 years of age with disruptive behaviors such as conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and anti-social behaviors
Adolescents 11 to 18 with the following symptoms or problems: substance use or at risk, delinquent/conduct disorder, school and other behavioral problems, and both internalizing and externalizing symptoms
Youth, 12 to 17 years old, with possible substance abuse issues who are at risk of out-of-home placement due to antisocial or delinquent behaviors and/or youth involved with the juvenile justice system and their parents/caregivers (some other restrictions for youth exist, see the Essential Components section for more details)
Children in grades Pre-Kindergarten through 6th
Children ages 2.0 - 7.0 years old with behavior and parent-child relationship problems; may be conducted with parents, foster parents, or other caretakers
7 to 14 year olds with behavioral problems, particularly children who struggle to handle disappointments, frustrations, or problems calmly
Universal populations (all children) including those with more serious behavior problems and/or cognitive challenges
Boys and girls, 12-17 years old, with severe delinquency and/or severe emotional and behavioral disorders who were in need of out-of-home placement and could not be adequately served in lower levels of care, and their caregivers
For parents and caregivers of children and adolescents from birth to 12 years old with moderate to severe behavioral and/or emotional difficulties or for parents that are motivated to gain a more in-depth understanding of positive parenting
Children ages 4-14 who experience oppositional episodes and their parents
Children and adolescents aged 10-18 who have severe emotional and behavioral problems (e.g., conduct disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder) and frequently co-occurring problems such as depression, alcohol or drug use, chronic truancy, destruction of property, domestic violence, or suicidal ideation; program also has been used with teenagers with less extreme behaviors and serves both youth in the community and returning home from an out-of-home placement
High-risk youth in public, private, and alternative schools, and in residential settings, including juvenile corrections
For children, ages 7-11, and their family members (ages 0-99)
Preschool foster children aged 3-6 years old who exhibit a high level of disruptive and antisocial behavior which cannot be maintained in regular foster care, or who may be considered for residential treatment, and their caregivers
Parents and caregivers of children with disruptive behavior between 3 and 12 years of age; can be used with parents and caregivers of children without disruptive behavior between 3 and 12 years of age as a preventive or early intervention
Children ages 3-10 who experience disruptive behaviors, depression, anxiety, trauma symptoms, aggression, and co-occurring internalizing and externalizing problems impeding holistic development
Aggressive and violent adolescents, 13 to 18 years of age
Children ages 3-10 who are experiencing social, emotional, behavioral and relational problems
Parents of children ages 3- 8 with behavioral, emotional, social, or attachment disorders
Children and adolescents (ages 3-21) with a variety of behavioral challenges, including both externalizing (e.g., aggression, defiance, tantrums) and internalizing (e.g., implosions, shutdowns, withdrawal) who may carry a variety of related psychiatric diagnoses, and their parents/caregivers, unless not age appropriate (e.g. young adult or transition age youth)
Youth 11-18 years of age and their family members of all ages (including siblings)
Parents of children ages 4-12 years who are defiant or who may qualify for a diagnosis of oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)
Families and referred children who are at-risk as a result of family conflict, lack of parenting skills, child abuse, childhood emotional issues, disruptive behavioral problems including criminal misconduct and other at-risk situations children, parents, and families face.
Parents of children (age 3-8 years old) who are noncompliant and have related disruptive behavior/conduct problems
Low- and middle-income 4-12 year old students, including African-Americans, Caucasians, Hispanic, and Asian populations
Caregiver and child age 1-10 years who has or is at high-risk of developing behavior problems or who is adjusting to a new home or family situation
Families with children at risk for or with behavior problems, substance abuse problems, or delinquency
Boys ages 6 to 11 years old with disruptive behavior problems and their parents/caregivers
Children 3-8 years of age
Parents/caregivers of young children (ages 3-6 ) in higher risk families or who are exhibiting high rates of conduct problems, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or developmental delay
Teachers of children 3-8 years of age and the children in their classroom
Children at high-risk of conduct problems beginning at age 6-7 (1st grade) through age 15/16 (Grade 10)
Parents of children with an intellectual disability who display difficult behaviours
Parents of what are collectively referred to as "strong-willed," or out-of-control adolescents and older children (11-17 years old), including children diagnosed with Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Conduct Disorder, and most children diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. The program has also been used with adult children still living in the home.
The Disruptive Behavior Treatment (Child & Adolescent) topic area is relevant to child welfare because documented research shows that children who enter the child welfare system, particularly those that are removed from their home, experience a significantly higher rate of mental health problems, including disruptive behavior than children in the general population. This is not surprising, and is likely the result of a number of contributing factors. These factors may include events that precipitated child welfare intervention including abuse, neglect, and abandonment, as well as factors associated with placement, including separation, loss, anger, and fear.
While the child welfare system has historically focused on the physical and safety needs of children, emerging practice within agencies across the country is to now take into account the emotional needs of children as well. Child welfare agencies along with mental health providers have come to recognize the need for timely, appropriate, and effective disruptive behavior treatment services that support children and families in achieving successful outcomes. In addition, early assessment and timely treatment intervention have been recognized as playing a key role in ensuring successful outcomes for children. As a result, a growing number of new initiatives and programs are being implemented within California counties that support the delivery of an array of mental health services to children and families receiving child welfare services. These services range from mental health screening and assessment to individualized treatment for identified needs.
Additionally, there is heightened awareness among professionals that the delivery of children's mental health services must be carefully coordinated across child serving agencies to thoroughly address their complex needs. Whether children remain living with their parents or are placed outside the home, it is critical that all children in the child welfare system be screened and assessed. Moreover, parents and caregivers must be trained to identify early signs of mental distress enabling them to seek early intervention and appropriate care and treatment.
Marilynne Garrison
Division Chief, Community-Based Support Division
https://dcfs.lacounty.gov/
The Disruptive Behavior Treatment (Child & Adolescent) topic area is relevant to child welfare because documented research shows that children who enter the child welfare system, particularly those that are removed from their home, experience a significantly higher rate of mental health problems, including disruptive behavior than children in the general population. This is not surprising, and is likely the result of a number of contributing factors. These factors may include events that precipitated child welfare intervention including abuse, neglect, and abandonment, as well as factors associated with placement, including separation, loss, anger, and fear.
While the child welfare system has historically focused on the physical and safety needs of children, emerging practice within agencies across the country is to now take into account the emotional needs of children as well. Child welfare agencies along with mental health providers have come to recognize the need for timely, appropriate, and effective disruptive behavior treatment services that support children and families in achieving successful outcomes. In addition, early assessment and timely treatment intervention have been recognized as playing a key role in ensuring successful outcomes for children. As a result, a growing number of new initiatives and programs are being implemented within California counties that support the delivery of an array of mental health services to children and families receiving child welfare services. These services range from mental health screening and assessment to individualized treatment for identified needs.
Additionally, there is heightened awareness among professionals that the delivery of children's mental health services must be carefully coordinated across child serving agencies to thoroughly address their complex needs. Whether children remain living with their parents or are placed outside the home, it is critical that all children in the child welfare system be screened and assessed. Moreover, parents and caregivers must be trained to identify early signs of mental distress enabling them to seek early intervention and appropriate care and treatment.
Marilynne Garrison
Division Chief, Community-Based Support Division
https://dcfs.lacounty.gov/
The Disruptive Behavior Treatment (Child & Adolescent) topic area was added in 2010. Amanda Jensen-Doss, PhD was the topic expert and was involved in identifying and rating any of the programs with an original load date in 2010 (as found on the bottom of the program's page on the CEBC) or others loaded earlier and added to this topic area when it launched. The topic area has grown over the years and any programs added since 2010 were identified by CEBC staff, the Scientific Panel, and/or the Advisory Committee. For these programs, Dr. Jensen-Doss was not involved in identifying or rating them.
The Disruptive Behavior Treatment (Child & Adolescent) topic area was added in 2010. Amanda Jensen-Doss, PhD was the topic expert and was involved in identifying and rating any of the programs with an original load date in 2010 (as found on the bottom of the program's page on the CEBC) or others loaded earlier and added to this topic area when it launched. The topic area has grown over the years and any programs added since 2010 were identified by CEBC staff, the Scientific Panel, and/or the Advisory Committee. For these programs, Dr. Jensen-Doss was not involved in identifying or rating them.
