What Is Oppositional Defiant Disorder?

Re: "Does Oppositional Defiant Disorder usually occur alongside other disorders?" The short answer is “yes, more often than not!” Many kids who are diagnosed with Oppositional Defiant Disorder also have other treatable mental health and learning conditions. Having more than one condition is called having a coexisting or comorbid condition. Some conditions that coexist with Oppositional Defiant Disorder are: Language disorders Anxiety disorders ADHD Mood disorders (e.g., depression, bipolar disorder) Learning disorders Research indicates that some kids develop the behavioral symptoms of Oppositional Defiant Disorder as a way to manage anxiety or uncertainty. Anxiety disorders and mood disorders are similar to Oppositional Defiant Disorder in that they are often a response to uncertainty and an unstable home and school environment. These similarities make it more likely that Oppositional Defiant Disorder and anxiety disorder and a mood disorder will occur tog...

Question My son is 9 and has Aspergers, but also definitely is developing ODD in school with his teacher. I've tried desperately to talk to my son and his teacher, as well as his school Psychologist about what is triggering his behavior. My son told me he doesn't like his teacher's "loud voice" and that it scares him. Her response when I told her and the School Psychologist that was if he doesn't want to hear her loud voice, then he better do his work and stop staring into space. I told them about your site and have shared your articles with them, but they don't seem to want to try anything but fighting fire with fire, which is leading to more meltdowns and disasters! I have documented everything and written to my son's Psychiatrist who originally diagnosed him, and asked for his advice and help getting my son into a better school system. There is a special school available in my county for Aspergers and ODD/Behavioral children that wor...

Re: "What are some alternative treatments for Oppositional Defiant Disorder?" The primary non-medical treatment for Oppositional Defiant Disorder is behavioral modification. For behavior modification to work, the program must have certain properties: 1. A few important behaviors need to be targeted. Rather than targeting "behaving better," parents need to be very specific (e.g., no hitting, no swearing, no using drugs, etc.). 2. All parties (parent, teacher, babysitter, etc.) need to be on the same page, using the exact same behavioral modification strategies. 3. Consequences and rewards need to be tailored to the individual child (one size does not fit all). 4. Rewards should not be money or things that the parent purchases (e.g., toys, games). Instead, rewards should consist of privileges the parent can grant or activities that the youngster can participate in. 5. The program should be simple and straightforward so that the ODD youngste...

Re: Is medication usually recommended for Oppositional Defiant Disorder? The short answer is "no." Parent education and training is the first course of treatment for children and teens with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (i.e., the parent learns behavior modification techniques tailored to the ODD child). In the event that medication is warranted (which is usually a “last resort” intervention), several options exist:  serotonergic agents (e.g., Prozac, Celexa, Zoloft) mood stabilizing drugs (e.g., Depakote) antihypertensives (e.g., Tenex, Clonidine) Medication should only be considered: when the symptoms are very severe if non-medical interventions are not successful if medically treatable CO-morbid conditions are present (e.g., ADHD, depression, tic disorders, seizure disorders, psychosis)  ==> Help for Parents with Oppositional Defiant Children and Teens

Treatment of Oppositional Defiant Disorder usually consists of the following: • Behavior modification • Family therapy and education • Group therapy and education • Individual therapy and education • Having a healthy role model to look up to • Providing a consistent daily schedule • Providing consistent rules • Providing discipline • Providing limit-setting • Providing support • Training in how to get along with others • Self-management skills • Medication (last resort) • Residential or day treatment (last resort) To make the fullest possible recovery, the ODD child or teen must: 1. Attend all therapy sessions 2. Develop a predictable, consistent, daily schedule of activity 3. Develop ways to obtain pleasure and feel good 4. Find and use ways to calm oneself 5. Find ways to limit stimulation 6. Frequently remind oneself of one's goals 7. Get involved in tasks and physical activities that provide a healthy outlet for one's energy 8. Identify what inc...

Does your child have Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), or is it just normal moodiness? Take the ODD self-test below to find out. Signs of Oppositional Defiant Disorder will generally begin before your son or daughter is 8 years old. Occasionally, Oppositional Defiant Disorder can develop later, but it almost always develops before the age of 13. When Oppositional Defiant Disorder behavior develops, the signs tend to begin gradually, but then worsen over subsequent months and years.   ==> Help for Parents with Oppositional Defiant Children and Teens  Oppositional Defiant Disorder: Self-Test— My child: Is often a very negative person. Y or N Is often disobedient. Y or N Has had several suspensions and after-school detentions. Y or N Is often hostile or disrespectful toward authority figures. Y or N Uses excessive profanity. Y or N May be experimenting with drugs or alcohol. Y or N Has severe temper tantrums when things don’t go his/her way. Y or N I...

While there is no single test that can diagnose Oppositional Defiant Disorder, a mental health professional can determine whether a youngster or teenager has the disorder by assessing the youngster’s symptoms and behaviors and by using clinical experience to make a diagnosis. Many moms and dads first call upon the youngster’s doctor for an evaluation. This evaluation typically begins by compiling a medical history and performing a physical examination. During the evaluation, the youngster’s doctor will look for physical or other mental health issues that may cause problems with behavior. If the physician can’t find a physical cause for the symptoms, he may refer the youngster to a psychiatrist or a mental health professional who is trained to diagnose and treat mental illnesses in kids and teenagers. A psychiatrist or a qualified mental health professional usually diagnoses Oppositional Defiant Disorder. A mental health professional will gather information from moms and...