DISREGARD for AUTHORITY

OPPOSITIONAL DEFIANCE DISORDER (ODD)

What is Oppositional Defiance Disorder?

Children and teens may often be difficult and challenging at times, but if your child constantly displays a persistent pattern of serious tantrums, arguing, and angry or disruptive behaviors toward you or other figures of authority, he may have oppositional defiance disorder.

Similar to conduct disorder although not as serious, oppositional defiance disorder is a disorder in which a child displays serious defiant behavior to parents and other figures of authority that is not within the bounds of normal childhood misbehavior.

Symptoms of Oppositional Defiance Disorder (DSM-IV Criteria)

In order to diagnose a child with oppositional defiance disorder the child must meet the following criteria:

• The child displays defiant behaviours (i.e. angry, resentful, touchy, easily annoyed and spiteful).
• The child also often: loses his temper, annoys other deliberately, argues with adults and refuses to comply with adults’ requests.
• These behaviours must last for a period of at least six months.
• The criteria are not met for conduct disorder.
• The behaviour causes significant impairment in educational or social functioning.
• The behaviour does not exclusively occur during the course of a psychotic or mood disorder.

Treatment for ODD usually involves family therapy, social skills training, psychotherapy and cognitive behavioural therapy.