Rule Breaking, Defiance, & Acting Out
Created on August 5, 2017. Last updated on February 24th, 2020 at 01:41 pm
Take me to the effective therapies for disruptive behavior problems
Rule breaking and “acting out” are some of the signs of child and adolescent disruptive behavior problems.
What are Disruptive Behavior Problems?
Children and teens with disruptive behavior problems may act in ways that are upsetting or troubling. This can include stealing, fighting, not doing what has been asked of them, or lying. These problems may also get in the way with a child’s ability to learn or interact with the people around them.
Parents become worried about these problems, because they can upset family life. These behaviors can also lead to problems at school, and even cause trouble with the police.
Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and conduct disorder (CD) are the two main disruptive behavior disorders and cover many problem behaviors.
Effective Therapies for Disruptive Behavior Problems
Parent behavior therapy with child participation and group parent behavior therapy are two effective treatments. They bring together tactics from family, behavioral, and cognitive-behavioral therapies. These therapies have been proven effective for the treatment of disruptive disorders in adolescents.
Listed in the chart below are many treatments for each of these disorders. Although therapies are listed within each treatment, they can often be used to treat problem behaviors (e.g., aggression, disregard for rules, etc.).
| Level 1: Works Well | Combined Behavioral Therapy + CBT + Family Therapy | Examples:
Multisystemic Therapy (targeting youth involved in juvenile justice system) Treatment Foster Care Oregon (TFCO); formerly Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care (MTFC) (targeting youth involved in juvenile justice system) |
| Level 2: Works | CBT
|
Examples:
Aggression Replacement Training + Positive Peer Culture (Equipping Youth to Help One Another) (targeting youth involved in juvenile justice system) Solution-Focused Group Program (targeting youth involved in juvenile justice system) |
| Level 2: Works | Combined Behavioral Therapy + CBT + Family Therapy | Examples:
Functional Family Therapy (targeting youth involved in juvenile justice system) Multisystemic Therapy |
| Level 3: Might Work | Behavioral Therapy or Parenting Skills | Examples:
Familias Unidas Non-Violent Resistence |
| Level 3: Might Work | CBT | Examples:
Cognitive Mediation (targeting youth involved in juvenile justice system) |
| Level 3: Might Work | Combined Behavioral Therapy + CBT + Family Therapy | Examples:
Rational-Emotive Behavior Therapy Support to Reunite, Involve, and Value Each Other |
| Level 4: Experimental | Behavioral Therapy or Parenting Skills | Examples:
Behavior Management Training + Problem-Solving Communication Training Parenting with Love and Limits Triple P Teen (Self-Directed Enhanced with Phone Consultations) |
| Level 4: Experimental | CBT | Examples:
Aggression Replacement Training (Learned Resourcefulness) (targeting school/classroom disruption) Anger Management + Think Good, Feel Good (targeting school/classroom disruption) Assertive Training (targeting school/classroom disruption) Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy Cognitive Training + Phone Coaching (RealVictory Program (targeting youth involved in juvenile justice system) Juvenile Cognitive Intervention (targeting youth involved in juvenile justice system) Juvenile Probation Services Intervention (targeting youth involved in juvenile justice system) Life Skills (Psychoeducation) (targeting youth involved in juvenile justice system) Mindfields (targeting youth involved in juvenile justice system) Multi-Family Group Counseling (targeting school/classroom disruption) Rational-Emotive Mental Health Program |
| Level 4: Experimental | Family Therapy | Example:
Brief Strategic Family Therapy |
| Level 4: Experimental | Mentoring | Example:
Monitored Youth Mentoring Program (targeting school/classroom disruption) |
| Level 4: Experimental | Combined Behavioral Therapy + CBT | Examples:
Anger Control Training with Contingency Management Anger Management for Female Juvenile Offenders (targeting youth involved in juvenile justice system) Dialectical Behavior Therapy Dialectical Behavior Therapy – Corrections Modified (targeting youth involved in juvenile justice system) Dialectical Behavior Therapy – Skills Training Only Motivational Interviewing + Solution-Focused Counseling + Behavioral Shaping Parent Management + Problem-Solving + Cognitive Behavioral Therapy |
| Level 4: Experimental | Combined CBT + Mindfulness | Example:
Meditation on the Soles of the Feet |
| Level 4: Experimental | Combined Behavioral Therapy + Attachment-Based Therapy | Examples:
Connect Program Multiple-Family Group Intervention (targeting youth involved in juvenile justice system) |
| Level 4: Experimental | Combined Family Therapy + Emotionally Focused Approaches | Example:
Family-Centered Treatment (targeting youth involved in juvenile justice system) |
| Level 4: Experimental | Combined Behavioral Therapy + CBT + Family Therapy | Examples:
Integrated Families and Systems Treatment Treatment Foster Care Oregon (TFCO); formerly Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care (MTFC) + Trauma-Focused CBT (targeting youth involved in juvenile justice system) |
| Level 4: Experimental | Combined Behavioral Therapy + CBT + Wraparound | Example:
Parenting with Love and Limits—Re-entry (targeting youth involved in juvenile justice system) |
| Level 5: Tested and Does Not Work | Behavioral Therapy or Parenting Skills | Examples:
Positive Family Support-Family Check-Up (formerly Adolescent Transitions Program) Contingency Management Relaxation Breathing Exercise |
| Level 5: Tested and Does Not Work | CBT | Examples:
Motivational Interviewing (Personal Aspiration and Concerns) (targeting juvenile justice system) Positive Life Changes SafERteens |
| Level 5: Tested and Does Not Work | Psychodynamic | Example:
Human Relations Training |
| Level 5: Tested and Does Not Work | Combined Behavioral Therapy + CBT | Examples:
Aggression Replacement Training + Token Economy (targeting youth involved in juvenile justice system) Anger Control Training with Behavior Management |
| Level 5: Tested and Does Not Work | Combined Humanistic + Bibliotherapy +Psychodynamic + CBT | Example:
Counseling Intervention (targeting school/classroom disruption)
|
To find out more about how these treatment levels are defined, click here.
Source(s): McCart, M. R., & Sheidow, A. J. (2016). Evidence-based psychosocial treatments for adolescents with disruptive behavior. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 45(5), 529-563. https://doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2016.1146990
Kaminski, J. & Claussen, A. (2017). Evidence based update for psychosocial treatments for disruptive behaviors in children. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 46(4), 477-499. https://doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2017.1310044
