A CASE SERIES ON MANAGEMENT OF CONDUCT DISORDERS WITH POOR TREATMENT ADHERENCE AND PARENT-CHILD CONFLICT: EXPLORING PSYCHIATRIC SOCIAL WORK AND MEDICATION INTERVENTIONS abstract

Background: Conduct Disorder (CD) is a childhood disorder marked by consistent anger, defiance, and a desire for revenge. Children with CD struggle to control their emotions and actions. It affects about 5-8% of children globally and typically starts between the ages of 10 and 18 years. Methods and Materials: The three index clients, male, between 12-14 years of age, visited the Institute of Psychiatry, Kolkata, with caregivers and were referred to the Psychiatric Social Work department with the symptoms of stealing, lying, blaming, cruelty towards animals, anger outbursts, hitting behavior towards others, and poor treatment adherence. Gradually titrating the doses upwards, Tablet Risperidone upto a dose of 04 mg/day was prescribed to all of them. Following, the Psychiatric Social Worker imparted parent management training, behavior therapy, parent-child interaction training, and anger management to the clients and family members. Results: After the Psychiatric Social Work (PSW) interventions in combination with medication, there were noticeable improvements in the lives and well-being of individuals with CD and their families. The severity of CD symptoms decreased, high emotional expression decreased, and family cohesion improved. Both clients and family members learned how to prevent recurrent symptoms in future issues. Risperidone was tapered off in two individuals and in one, it was reduced to 0.5 mg/day following the PSW interventions, once symptom control was achieved. Conclusion: PSW interventions play a crucial role in managing Conduct Disorders (CD) by involving the family. This approach helps in sustaining long-term well-being and improving treatment (pharmacological and non-pharmacological) adherence.