behavior disorder, any of a group of antisocial behavior patterns occurring primarily in children and adolescents, such as overaggressiveness, overactivity, destructiveness, cruelty, truancy, lying, disobedience, perverse sexual activity, criminality, alcoholism, and drug addiction. It includes oppositional defiance disorder and autism spectrum disorders. Treatment may include psychotherapy, milieu therapy, medication, and family counseling. See also antisocial personality disorder.
