Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)

What it is:

ODD is an acronym, which stands for Oppositional Defiant Disorder. This disorder is defined by a pattern of negative, hostile and defiant behavior lasting at least 6 months, during which four (or more) of the following are present:

Loss of temper
Arguing with adults
Actively defies adults’ requests or rules
Often deliberately annoys people
Blames others for their own mistakes
Is touchy or easily annoyed by others
Angry and resentul of others
Is often spiteful or vindictive

This disorder is more prevalent in boys than girls and is found in 16-22% of the school age population. The onset typically begins by age 8. The cause of this disorder is unknown, but parents of children with this disorder are overly concerned with issues of power and control which might lead to the eruption of oppositional defiant behavior.

**Note: Consider a criterion met only if the behavior occurs more frequently than is typically observed in individuals of comparable age and developmental level.
**Note: The disturbance in behavior causes clinically significant impairment in social, academic or occupational functioning. (Source: American Psychiatric Association, 1994 DSM-IV, Washington, DC)

Treatment:

The best treatment for a child diagnosed with ODD is behavioral therapy, implemented through parent training. The parent training is often as, or more effective, as family therapy, conducted with the parents and the child. In these courses, parents learn behavioral techniques, which help increase the likelihood of maintaining control in the relationship with the child. Gradual shaping of the child’s behavior toward more age-appropriate behaviors is accomplished through the implementation of a behavioral monitoring reward program.

Medication:

Very little research has been conducted in the use of medications of ODD. Therefore, medication is not recommended as a treatment option.

(Source: “Mental Health Sensitivity Curriculum: Understanding Brain Disorders” by
Kentucky Partnership for Families and Children, Inc.)

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