Oppositional Defiant Disorder
What is Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) ?
Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) is a type of behaviour disorder, commonly diagnosed in childhood. Children with ODD are uncooperative, defiant, and hostile toward peers, parents, teachers, and other authority figures. Consequently, they are more troubling to others than they are to themselves.
ODD is defined by a pattern of hostile, disobedient, and defiant behaviours directed at adults or other authority figures. In particular, children displaying angry and irritable moods, as well as argumentative and vindictive behaviours, is often an indication of ODD.
Symptoms of ODD in children and adolescents
ODD most commonly affects children and adolescents. Symptoms of ODD include:
- frequent temper tantrums or episodes of anger
- refusal to comply with adult requests
- excessive arguing with adults and authority figures
- always questioning or actively disregarding rules
- behaviour intended to upset, annoy, or anger others, especially authority figures
- blaming others for their own mistakes or misbehaviours
- being easily annoyed
- vindictiveness
Keep in mind none of these symptoms alone point to ODD. There needs to be a pattern of multiple symptoms occurring over a period of at least six months.
How Can Therapy Help?
ODD is treatable, usually with behavioural therapy or a combination of therapy and medication.
Therapy can help children with ODD and their families manage the many challenges they face. Specifically, individual counselling can help kids better control their emotions, while family counselling can help families support a child struggling with ODD and find better strategies for communicating with one another.
In addition, some children might also benefit from social skills training to improve their peer relationships or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) if they are struggling with anxiety or depression. Similarly, children struggling with extreme emotional dysregulation may also benefit from Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT).
To find out more about getting help with Oppositional Defiant Disorder or other behavioural disorders, please contact us.
