Behavioral Disorders: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Behavioral disorders – also called conduct disorders – in early childhood may indicate later mental illness. Whether they have treatment value, however, is another matter. Most people exhibit some behavioral disturbances during their lives that are transient in nature.

What are behavioral disorders?

The simplest definition of behavior disorders is those that do not characterize “normal” or inappropriate behavior. What is problematic and ethnically diverse in this regard is what is conceived as “normal.” In Tibet, people greeted each other with their tongues out until 1959; here, this was considered indecent and obscene. One can interpret certain behavioral disorders as warning signals or cries for help. Many behavioral disorders such as aggression, wanton destruction of objects, rioting, hyperactive acting out, denial, obscene behavior, crying, excessive fearfulness or non-age-appropriate wetting without a dementia disease are judged differently. Therefore, there are numerous more or less detailed approaches to defining behavioral disorders.

Causes

The causes of conduct disorders are varied. They may be familial in nature and be rooted in the mother’s mental illness or the father’s alcohol-related violence. They can be due to stress at school, constant failures, too high pressure of expectations, lack of recognition, long illness, disability or mobbing, represent inner rebellion against hierarchies or are simply triggered by unkindness. However, brain damage, childhood trauma, suppressed fears, oppressive loneliness, certain physical or mental illnesses also come into question. Educational errors can also manifest as behavioral disorders. It follows that many behavioral disorders are readily treatable. Often they are temporary in nature. Others grow into a real problem that requires treatment. These include, for example, cutting up one’s own body.

Symptoms, complaints and signs

Behavioral disorders can occur at any age. Signs are by no means clear-cut and allow for misinterpretation. Affected individuals direct their behavior against a usual norm in their environment or in themselves. Many symptoms occur only temporarily. A difference to other mental illnesses cannot always be clearly determined. Affected persons usually suffer from inner conflicts. These are expressed, for example, in sudden and unexpected mood swings toward their environment. A basic aggressiveness is present. Even small mishaps or trivial everyday occurrences are put in a negative light. In certain phases, individuals work hyperactively and extremely euphorically with others, while they otherwise live withdrawn lives. Women and men with conduct disorder give the impression of not being at peace with themselves. They often cannot make sense of their lives and feel inferior. Fear of new things and change characterizes their existence. Some sufferers sleep poorly, which is not surprising in view of a constant inner restlessness. The abnormal behavior ensures that generally accepted standards are not observed. Eating disorders or excessive consumption of alcohol are the final consequences. Some patients can only inadequately concentrate on achieving personal and professional goals.

Diagnosis and course

Diagnosis and course of conduct disorder are usually relatively straightforward. Most conduct disorders take place in public and can be noticed by anyone. Others are carried out secretly but eventually become noticeable. From the classifications in ICD-10, one can see how fluid the transitions to mental disorder can be. Mental and behavioral disorders are classified in the diagnosis code in

  • Organic and symptomatic-psychological disorders.
  • Mental or behavioral disorders due to the use of psychotropic substances.
  • Schizophrenia or delusional disorders
  • Affective disorders
  • Neurotic, overload or somatoform behavioral disorders
  • Behavioral abnormalities accompanied by physical symptoms.
  • Personality or behavioral disorders
  • Intelligence impairments
  • Developmental behavioral disorders
  • Early behavioral and emotional disorders
  • Other mental disorders

itemized.Where behavioral disorders begin and when they are considered a mental disorder or illness varies. Many behavioral disorders are not perceived by the person affected as suffering. Talking to oneself, for example, is considered normal today.

Complications

As a rule, behavioral disorders always have a very negative effect on the daily life of the affected person and can make it considerably more difficult. Especially in children, these disorders lead to significantly delayed development and further to complaints in adulthood. Bullying or teasing can also occur and lead to psychological upsets or even depression. Patients often suffer from anxiety, even ADHD or concentration disorders. Furthermore, inner restlessness often occurs, so that the affected persons are very irritable and seem restless oily nervous. Likewise, mood swings or personality disorders can occur due to the behavioral disorders. Parents are also affected by psychological complaints or depression in the case of behavioral disorders and often need treatment as well. However, the further course depends very much on the exact disorders and their severity. In severe cases, however, the treatment of behavioral disorders is carried out in a closed clinic. No complications occur during the treatment itself. The symptoms can be solved with the help of various therapies or even medication. A complete cure cannot be predicted.

When should you go to the doctor?

People who persistently show behavior from the norm should consult a doctor for observation and assessment of the situation. Problems in a social interaction, inappropriate reactions or recognizable emotional overload are signs of a health impairment. If both the person affected and his or her relatives feel clearly overwhelmed in their interactions with each other, consultation with a medical professional is advisable. In the case of self-destructive actions, permanent conflict situations in everyday life, insults or disturbances of concentration, help is needed. If no regular daily routine can take place, social obligations are not met or the affected person shows an exaggerated reckless and dangerous behavior, a doctor should be consulted. Tantrums, severe weepiness, a lack of hygiene, and a lack of empathy indicate a disorder. Loss of control, breaking of existing rules and agreements that serve a better organization in everyday life as well as conspicuousness of speech are also complaints that should be examined. If there are disturbances in voluntary movement or sleep, this should be understood as an alarm signal from the organism. If the abnormalities appear suddenly, there are usually acute disturbances with a need for action as quickly as possible. Since it is part of the characteristics of behavioral disorders that the affected person himself lacks awareness of his actions, relatives and people from the social environment are often in the obligation to get help.

Treatment and therapy

Treatment of behavioral disorders always depends on the disorder. A different approach must be taken with ADHD children than with a highly aggressive man who resists all treatment or an alcoholic woman who uses fecal language while intoxicated and occasionally develops delusions. Talk therapy and behavioral therapy offer good approaches to many behavioral disorders. The underlying cause of the behavioral disorders must be found if the intervention is to be successful. In some cases, medication must be used. In others, drug or alcohol withdrawal in an appropriate clinical facility is the appropriate treatment approach. The behavioral problems often disappear when the cause is treated. Aggression of children after the divorce of their parents or because of latent mental disorders of the caregiver can be well controlled, for example, with family therapy. In the family structure, many things are not allowed to be expressed, there are taboos and painstakingly suppressed things that can trigger behavioral disorders. In the protected space of a family therapy, however, such things can be addressed.

Prevention

Prevention of behavioral disorders is helped by a healthy, open climate in which everyone can express themselves.When behavioral disorders occur, it is possible to investigate the causes and work together to try to resolve the underlying conflicts. The person with behavioral disorders can learn other ways to deal with their conflicts and problems. Behaviorally disturbed children are no longer referred to as difficult to raise. The problems often lie deeper.

Aftercare

Behavior disorders are a broad field and follow-up care must therefore be precisely tailored to the individual. However, it is very important in most cases because behavioral disorders often cannot be completely eliminated by therapy and what has been learned must always be reintegrated into everyday private and professional life. Aftercare can be arranged in cooperation with psychologists or the family doctor and requires the active cooperation of the patient. Often it is also helpful to visit a self-help group with like-minded people. The exchange of experiences in a protected setting reduces fears and can give those affected valuable tips for coping with their behavioral disorders. It is often social contact that helps with behavioral disorders. Friends, colleagues and neighbors can be important in the aftercare process, so communication and other contact should not be neglected. In sports clubs or adult education classes, people with conduct disorders discover opportunities to discard unfavorable behaviors and gradually integrate new behavior patterns into their lives. What they have learned in therapy is thus consistently put into practice. The behavioral disorders can be further reduced and new self-confidence can be gained through a sense of achievement from social contacts. If behavioral disorders are also linked to inner turmoil, relaxation methods such as progressive muscle relaxation, autogenic training or yoga, which are best learned in a course, often help.

What you can do yourself

Patients with behavioral disorders are often severely limited in their daily lives by the condition. In some cases, it is no longer possible for those affected to continue in their professional activities and pursue a regular daily routine. They are often dependent on the help of relatives. In the case of behavioral disorders, it is particularly important for those affected to have a regular daily routine. For example, it is advisable to strictly adhere to a regular time for getting up and going to bed, as well as regular mealtimes. Patients should avoid alcohol and beverages with a high caffeine content. Nicotine consumption should be reduced if necessary. A balanced diet rich in vitamins and low in sugar is also important. Regular exercise can also be helpful. For example, daily morning jogging, walking or swimming are recommended. Relaxation techniques such as yoga can also be effective. Those affected should by no means withdraw into loneliness. Social events such as family celebrations should be attended if patients are able. In some cases, however, it is advisable to involve relatives and friends and to inform them about the disease. Help is also available to affected persons and their relatives in self-help groups or in Internet forums for people with mental illness.