ABSTRACT
Disruptive behavior disorders (DBDs), by their very nature, can interrupt the functioning of the individual, family, community, and society as a whole. For example, Copeland et al. (2011) found, as part of the Great Smokey Mountain Study, that males overall had a greater chance of being diagnosed with any mental health disorder, and that difference was accounted for by gender differences in rates of disruptive behavior. There are also significant monetary costs associated with these disorders. Pelham et al. (2007) has estimated that the average annual cost of treating each child with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is $2,636, another $4,900 in educational costs, and $7,040 in crime and delinquency costs, for a total of $14,576 per child with ADHD per year. De Graaf et al. (2008) noted an average of 22.1 annual excess lost days among adults across 10 countries. The cost is high and the impact is great. This chapter reviews the epidemiology and course of these disorders in order to better understand the scope of impact of these disorders and how they affect people across the life span.
