OPPOSITIONAL DEFIANT DISORDER (ODD)
Oppositional Defiant Disorder is a childhood disorder described by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) as an ongoing pattern of anger-guided disobedience, hostility, and defiant behavior toward authority figures that goes beyond the bounds of normal childhood behavior. Children suffering from this disorder may appear very stubborn and often angry. A diagnosis of ODD cannot be given if the child presents with conduct disorder (CD).
Some signs and symptoms that must be perpetuated for longer than six months and must be considered beyond normal child behavior to fit the diagnosis are:
The child must exhibit four out of the eight signs and symptoms listed below in order to meet the DSM-IV-TR diagnostic threshold for oppositional defiant disorder
- Actively refuses to comply with majority's requests or consensus-supported rules
- Performs actions deliberately to annoy others
- Angry and resentful of others
- Argues often
- Blames others for his or her own mistakes
- Often loses temper
- Spiteful or seeks revenge
- Touchy or easily annoyed
Generally, these patterns of behavior will lead to problems at school and other social venues.
Common features of oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) include excessive, often persistent anger, frequent temper tantrums or angry outbursts, as well as disregard for authority. Children and adolescents with ODD often purposely annoy others, blame others for their own mistakes, and are easily disrupted. Parents often observe more rigid and irritable behaviors than in siblings. In addition, these young people may appear resentful of others, and when someone does something they don't like they prefer revenge over more sensitive solutions.
For a child or adolescent to qualify for a diagnosis of ODD, these behaviors must cause considerable distress for the family or interfere significantly with academic or social functioning. Interference might take the form of preventing the child or adolescent from learning at school or making friends, or placing him or her in harmful situations. These behaviors must also persist for at least six months. Effects of ODD can be greatly amplified by other disorders in comorbidity such as ADHD. Other common comorbid disorders include depression and substance use disorders.