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Introduction to Oppositional Defiant Disorder

Oppositional Defiant Disorder

Welcome to our Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) topic center. ODD is a developmental disorder diagnosed in children who display extreme disobedient behavior. While all children may go through periods where they reject and rebel against their parents or caregiver?s instructions, children with Oppositional Defiant Disorder display a level of disobedience that is above and beyond anything that a normal child can produce, both in intensity and duration. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (the clinician?s bible for diagnosing mental problems), a child must display a continuing pattern of extreme disobedience lasting for over six months before meriting a diagnosis of ODD. Temper tantrums, talking back to adults, failing to observe rules, provoking others, failing to take responsibility for own actions, and a high degree of irritability and general meanness are all commonly observed and acceptable signs of disobed...More

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What is Oppositional Defiant Disorder?

  • Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) is a developmental disorder diagnosed in children who display extreme disobedient behavior.
  • While all children may go through periods where they reject and rebel against their parents or caregiver?s commandments, Oppositionally Defiant Disordered children display a level of disobedience that is above and beyond anything that a normal child can produce, both in intensity and duration.
  • A child must display a continuing pattern of extreme disobedience lasting for over six months before meriting a diagnosis of ODD. Temper tantrums, talking back to adults, failing to observe rules, provoking others, failing to take responsibility for own actions, and a high degree of irritability and general meanness are all commonly observed and acceptable signs of disobedience.
  • ODD is known to be more common in homes where parents chronically fight with one another, and in homes where one or more parents has a history of conduct problems, anti-social behavior, or drug abuse.
  • While parental dysfunction doesn?t directly cause ODD, it seems that it helps foster the development and maintenance of ODD symptoms in vulnerable children.
  • Treatment, usually in the form of individual/child and/or family psychotherapy, is available for ODD. Parental or caregiver involvement in therapy for ODD is quite important.

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  • Articles

    • Introduction to Oppositional Defiant Disorder

  • Questions and Answers
    • can you give me some advice please?
    • am i off my head i feel i have no feelings and want to harm ppl
    • out of control 16 year old nephew

  • Videos
    • What is Oppositional Defiant Disorder?
    • Disruptive Behaviors in Children with Oppositional Defiant Disorder

  • More Information
    • Wise Counsel Interview Transcript: An Interview with Keith Sutton, Psy.D. on Oppositional Defiant Disorder

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