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Common Mental Disorders Depression - New Zealand Doctor

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Chapter 3 Recognition and assessment of common mental disorders in young people/rangatahi/tamariki<br />

Conduct disorder<br />

Conduct disorder consists of a repetitive and persistent pattern of behaviours in which the<br />

basic rights of others or major age-appropriate norms or rules of society are violated. 243<br />

The defining features are as follows: 205<br />

• often bullies<br />

• initiates physical fights<br />

• physically cruel to people or animals<br />

• stealing<br />

• forced sexual activity with others<br />

• deliberate fire setting or destruction of property<br />

• often lies<br />

• runs away<br />

• is truant.<br />

The diagnosis requires at least 3 symptoms for 12 months and is more common in boys.<br />

Most young people with conduct disorder have a history of disruptive behaviour<br />

and defiance from early childhood but problems can become more severe during<br />

adolescence. 205 Sudden development of conduct disorder is unusual in adolescents<br />

and may be associated with depression, substance misuse or psychosocial problems. 188<br />

Substance misuse<br />

Substance use and misuse are strongly linked to puberty and are uncommon in young<br />

children, though the age of initiation is steadily dropping. 246 Clinical impressions of<br />

alcohol and drug involvement frequently underestimate use, so young people who<br />

disclose in a routine HEEADSSS interview that they have used cigarettes, drunk alcohol<br />

or used other drugs should be further assessed through direct questioning to determine<br />

their level of use. 59,247<br />

Comorbidity<br />

A large number of studies have shown that young people who present with one<br />

disorder (eg, conduct disorder) are at increased risk of other disorders (eg, substance<br />

use or depressive disorders). In the Christchurch and Dunedin longitudinal studies,<br />

around 40% of <strong>New</strong> <strong>Zealand</strong> 18-year-olds who met the criteria for a mental disorder<br />

had more than one disorder. 45<br />

Identification of <strong>Common</strong> <strong>Mental</strong> <strong>Disorders</strong> and Management of <strong>Depression</strong> in Primary Care 37

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