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Clinicians’ Perspectives on the Diagnosis of Antisocial Disorders in Adolescence

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Abstract

The intent of the study was to explore how professionals view the assessment and diagnosis of antisocial disorders such as oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and conduct disorder (CD). Six professionals from varying theoretical orientations were interviewed in order to gain insight into how theoretical and clinical perspectives influence the diagnostic process of antisocial disorders. Data was analyzed using a qualitative, constructivist grounded theory research methodology. The findings from the research interviews suggest that clinicians perceive a multifaceted approach to diagnosis. Participants emphasized the importance of individualized assessment, differential diagnosis, the role of context and impairment, and the functional and stigmatizing effects of diagnostic labels. The results illustrate relative consistency among practitioners in the assessment and diagnostic process. Further, it appears that clinicians incorporate a biopsychosocial approach to conceptualizing ODD and CD. This type of qualitative research serves to develop a conceptual understanding of the diagnostic process related to antisocial disorders.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Education, University of Lethbridge, 1038 Keystone Grove West, Lethbridge, AB, T1J 5E2, Canada

    Patrick McFarland

  2. Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Lethbridge, Lethbridge, Canada

    James Sanders & Bradley Hagen

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  1. Patrick McFarland
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  2. James Sanders
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  3. Bradley Hagen
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Correspondence to Patrick McFarland.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. The Faculty of Education Human Subjects Research Committee (HSRC) at the University of Lethbridge reviewed and granted ethical approval for this study.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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McFarland, P., Sanders, J. & Hagen, B. Clinicians’ Perspectives on the Diagnosis of Antisocial Disorders in Adolescence. Child Adolesc Soc Work J 35, 21–30 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10560-017-0500-x

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