NCJ Number
182123
Journal
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 44 Issue: 2 Dated: April 2000 Pages: 146-163
Editor(s)
George B. Palermo M.D.
Date Published
April 2000
Length
18 pages
Annotation
Trauma is proposed as a key to understanding the development and persistence of conduct disorder in conjunction with other contributing factors.
Abstract
Trauma history is virtually universal in the adolescent population, and trauma effects can help to account for many features of conduct disorder, including lack of empathy, impulsiveness, anger, acting out, and resistance to treatment. The current standard of care fails to fully address trauma, which may partially explain the low success rate. A trauma-focused individual therapy approach is presented as one example of how the adolescent population might be more effectively treated. The approach features motivational interviewing, self-control training, and trauma resolution and integrates eye movement desensitization and reprocessing. Two illustrative case examples are discussed. Further study of trauma-focused treatment approaches is recommended. 70 references