Approximately two-thirds of all children referred to mental health agencies are labeled conduct-disordered. Typically such children exhibit antisocial behavior - lying, cheating, stealing, firesetting, fighting, oppositional behavior and noncompliance to parental requests - at abnormal rates. Troubled Families - Problem Children helps the mental-health clinician understand the most effective "therapeutic processes" for supporting families who have children with conduct disorders.
Help for these families is particularly urgent as the children are not only at increased risk of abuse by their parents but are more likely to be involved in school dropout, alcoholism, drug abuse, juvenile delinquency, etc., and also to suffer from poor physical health.
