Conduct disorder is a repetitive and enduring group of behaviours that violates the basic rights of others and major age-appropriate social norms or rules. These behaviours are usually visible in the home, school and community, and are grouped into:

(1) aggressive behaviour or threats to others or animals,

(2) behaviour that causes loss or damage to property,

(3) theft or deceitfulness, and

(4) serious violations of rules.

For a diagnosis of Conduct Disorder a person must have displayed three or more of the above behaviours over the last 12 months and had one behaviour present over the past 6 months.

These behaviours must also cause clinically significant impairment in social, academic or occupational functioning.

Severe Conduction Disorder is diagnosed when a person has many conduct problems and / or these conduct problems cause considerable (as opposed to moderate or minimal) harm to others.