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BEHAVIORAL PATTERNS
By assessing only the behavioral patterns of an adopted
child, it is all too easy to misdiagnose the adopted child syndrome as conduct disorder.
Like conduct disorder, the adopted child syndrome is characterized by various forms of antisocial
acting out, primarily directed against parental and authority figures. Pathologic lying, stealing, fire
setting, promiscuity, substance abuse, and running away (or threats to do so) are typical;
assaultiveness occurs in severe cases. The child socializes with "streetwise" delinquents, antisocial
children or adults, often of a lower socioeconomic class than that of the adoptive
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family. School problems frequently include truancy, academic underachievement, and specific learning problems.
If unresolved, these behavioral problems usually escalate with age, leading the child into conflicts with school and legal authorities. In some cases, after several failed attempts to reason with the child, discipline him or her, and even have him or her clinically treated, the adoptive parents may finally submit a petition for court custody or seek placement of the child in a hospital or other residential treatment facility.
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