Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is a childhood condition that is characterized by defiant, disruptive, and disobedient behaviors such as arguing or answering back to adults and authority figures.
Other behaviors include children losing their temper; blaming others for their mistakes and/or misbehavior; intentionally engaging in activities known to annoy other people; being vindictive, resentful, overly sensitive, and easily annoyed.
ODD vs Conduct Disorder
Although there is some overlap between ODD and conduct disorder, the behaviors seen in those with ODD are usually less severe — their behaviors aren’t usually aggressive and/or destructive resulting in harm to others and damage to property, while those with conduct disorders are.
Symptoms of Oppositional Defiant Disorder:
Children with ODD might:
Some children only show their ODD symptoms in the home, while others are defiant everywhere, but most exhibit these behaviors with people they know well. They may not present on an initial visit with a therapist, and when questioned may say their outbursts and behavior are because of unfair treatment or situations.
Diagnosis of Oppositional Defiant Disorder:
It is not uncommon for children to exhibit many ODD behaviors from time to time, but it is considered a criterion for diagnosis when the behavior presents more often than in other children of the same level of development and the same age.
For a diagnosis of ODD to be made in children, the child’s behaviors must:
Severity
Individuals can present symptoms in different levels of severity. Clinically, this has been formalized into three groups, and they are defined by the number of settings in which the behaviors occur. These levels include:
Causes of Oppositional Defiant Disorder:
As with many conditions and disorders, the exact cause of oppositional defiant disorder is not clear. Factors that may contribute to the development of the disorder could stem from a combination of both environmental and genetic elements, including:
Treatment for Oppositional Defiant Disorder:
Family-based interventions are the primary treatments for addressing oppositional defiant disorder, but a more comprehensive treatment plan may include other types of psychotherapy and training for both the child and the parents, and this can often last several months.
Treatment is also required for any co-occurring disorders or conditions known or diagnosed at the time, since they can contribute to worsen oppositional symptoms if they are not treated.
Typical ODD treatment types:
Medication – It is rare that a treatment plan would only consist of medication since none have yet been identified to be a suitable solitary treatment. Typically, medications are only a part of the overall treatment when there are other co-occurring conditions like depression, anxiety, or ADHD.
Outlook for Oppositional Defiant Disorder:
Children with the milder cases of ODD frequently get better with age, while children diagnosed with more severe cases of ODD may develop a conduct disorder.
Symptoms of Oppositional Defiant Disorder:
Children with ODD might:
Some children only show their ODD symptoms in the home, while others are defiant everywhere, but most exhibit these behaviors with people they know well. They may not present on an initial visit with a therapist, and when questioned may say their outbursts and behavior are because of unfair treatment or situations.
Diagnosis of Oppositional Defiant Disorder:
It is not uncommon for children to exhibit many ODD behaviors from time to time, but it is considered a criterion for diagnosis when the behavior presents more often than in other children of the same level of development and the same age.
For a diagnosis of ODD to be made in children, the child’s behaviors must:
Severity
Individuals can present symptoms in different levels of severity. Clinically, this has been formalized into three groups, and they are defined by the number of settings in which the behaviors occur. These levels include:
Treatment for Oppositional Defiant Disorder:
Family-based interventions are the primary treatments for addressing oppositional defiant disorder, but a more comprehensive treatment plan may include other types of psychotherapy and training for both the child and the parents, and this can often last several months.
Treatment is also required for any co-occurring disorders or conditions known or diagnosed at the time, since they can contribute to worsen oppositional symptoms if they are not treated.
Typical ODD treatment types:
Medication – It is rare that a treatment plan would only consist of medication since none have yet been identified to be a suitable solitary treatment. Typically, medications are only a part of the overall treatment when there are other co-occurring conditions like depression, anxiety, or ADHD.