A 13 year old has repeatedly exhibited behaviors of purposeful cruelty to younger children, property destruction, and school truancy. These behaviors fit BEST the diagnostic criteria for

A 13 year old has repeatedly exhibited behaviors of purposeful cruelty to younger children, property destruction, and school truancy. These behaviors fit BEST the diagnostic criteria for

• A. Major depressive disorder
• B. Conduct disorder
• C. Oppositional defiant disorder
• D. Dysthymic disorder

Answer: (B)

This item is about recognizing conduct disorder, which is defined by a persistent pattern of violating the rights of others or major age-appropriate norms. The behaviors described—purposeful cruelty to younger children, destruction of property, and truancy—cover aggression toward people, destruction of property, and serious violations of rules. Taken together, they meet the type of persistent, rule-breaking behavior that characterizes conduct disorder. Compared with other options, oppositional defiant disorder involves defiance and hostile behavior toward authority but does not typically include the broader pattern of rights-violating or chronic rule-breaking seen in conduct disorder. Mood disorders like major depressive disorder and dysthymic disorder center on mood symptoms (depressed mood, anhedonia, fatigue, sleep/appetite changes) rather than the conduct problems described. So the best fit is conduct disorder because the behaviors reflect a pattern of actions that violate others’ rights and societal norms, not primarily mood disturbance or mere defiance toward authority.

This item is about recognizing conduct disorder, which is defined by a persistent pattern of violating the rights of others or major age-appropriate norms. The behaviors described—purposeful cruelty to younger children, destruction of property, and truancy—cover aggression toward people, destruction of property, and serious violations of rules. Taken together, they meet the type of persistent, rule-breaking behavior that characterizes conduct disorder.

Compared with other options, oppositional defiant disorder involves defiance and hostile behavior toward authority but does not typically include the broader pattern of rights-violating or chronic rule-breaking seen in conduct disorder. Mood disorders like major depressive disorder and dysthymic disorder center on mood symptoms (depressed mood, anhedonia, fatigue, sleep/appetite changes) rather than the conduct problems described.

So the best fit is conduct disorder because the behaviors reflect a pattern of actions that violate others’ rights and societal norms, not primarily mood disturbance or mere defiance toward authority.