Sometimes children have difficulty controlling their behavior and emotions and they may act out in disruptive ways. When this behavior is more severe and enduring, a person may fit the criteria for one of the disorders in the Disruptive, Impulse-Control and/or Conduct Disorder category.
 

Intermittent Explosive Disorder is expressed at recurrent, angry and aggressive outbursts, tantrums, verbal arguments, or fights, which are not premeditated. The outbursts are impulsive, and the severity of the aggressive verbal or physical aggression is out of proportion to the precipitating stressor or event.

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Oppositional Defiance Disorder includes a pervasive pattern of irritable moods and argumentative behavior which at times can be vindictive displayed in at least one setting. Individuals with this disorder often blame others for their moods or behavior.

 

Conduct Disorder has a repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior which includes aggression, destruction of property, deceitfulness, theft, and serious violation of age appropriate societal rules and norms toward others. Often Conduct Disorder is proceeded by Oppositional Defiance Disorder, therefore, early intervention is critical.

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These externalizing symptoms, where a person's distress is focused outward and directly affects others, can cause children and adults to behave impulsively, and aggressively towards people or property. These behaviors can occur across many different situations, are pervasive, and can create significant problems for the person and those people and property in their environment (APA, 2013).