Conduct and oppositional defiant disorders in children represent a predominant childhood referral problem, accounting for the majority of presenting problems to child and family agencies. Aggressive and disruptive behavior is one of the more enduring dysfunctions of children and, if left untreated, frequently results in high personal and emotional—as well as financial—costs to the child, the family, and society in general.

This book represents a decade of clinical treatment for and research with conduct-disordered children using a family intervention model in research centers and community agencies. The individuals employing this model, both clinicians and researchers, have the vision of developing a program that provides effective remediation of childhood behavioral problems, establishment of happy, healthy, and functional family units, and an ongoing link between clinical practice and research. (234 pp.)