| Defiant Child Behavior - more properly: "Oppositional | | | | Disorder". |
| Defiant Disorder"(or ODD) -- is quite a common | | | | Opinions differ as to whether medication is useful. |
| behavior disorder of adolescents, and even in younger | | | | Ritalin has been found useful in a few, but not all |
| children. Frequent occurrences of several of the | | | | studies where ADHD and ODD are both present. |
| following behaviors will lead to the ODD diagnosis: | | | | Researchers in one study found the mood stabilizer |
| A Frequent loss of temper | | | | Divalproex effective in 80% of children. Another study |
| B. Arguing with parents and other authority figures | | | | showed Risperdal was effective in children with lower |
| C. Refusing to obey requests or instructions | | | | intelligence. Strattera, an alternative to Ritalin in the |
| D. Refusing to follow rules | | | | treatment of ADHD, was found help ODD/ADHD |
| E. Deliberately annoying others | | | | children in one study, but not in another. A recent pilot |
| F. Blaming others for their own mistakes and | | | | study found that Omega-3 fatty acids and Vitamin E |
| misbehavior | | | | both helped somewhat. |
| G. Touchy and easily annoyed | | | | Parent Management Training, (PMT), is viewed as the |
| H. Easily angered. Resentful, spiteful or vindictive | | | | best treatment by most professionals. These |
| I. Harsh words or unkind behavior when upset | | | | programs teach parents better ways of reacting to |
| J. Seeking revenge. | | | | both negative and positive behaviors. PMT is more |
| ODD can develop by age three, or even two. | | | | effective when it's begun when the child is younger. |
| Occasional instances of the above behaviors should | | | | Part of the training is to teach parents to look beyond |
| be expected in all children, so the question is whether | | | | the defiance to try to discover any underlying |
| the behavior is extreme and consistent. ODD is | | | | problems, such as drugs, depression, new friends, or |
| diagnosed if the child displays defiant behaviors such | | | | just misguided attempts to get attention. |
| as the above so often that social relationships, school, | | | | Another emphasis of PMT training is seeking |
| and learning in general are interfered with. | | | | opportunities to praise the child at every opportunity, |
| What is the cause? There are two main theories. | | | | and to be interested in what's happening in the child's |
| Some researchers think that ODD stems from the | | | | life, even if your overtures are rejected. It's important |
| child never successfully making his way through the | | | | to offer to spend some time with your child, even |
| so-called "terrible twos." Other professionals feel that | | | | when your offer is rarely accepted. Even when angry |
| negative family interactions are the cause. | | | | and defiant, your child doesn't want to feel ignored. |
| Defiant Child Behavior or ODD usually occurs along | | | | Remember that some defiance is normal-- even |
| with ADD or ADHD or mood disorders such as | | | | necessary. It's part of every adolescent's |
| depression or severe anxiety or bipolar disorder. Very | | | | developmental task. They need to learn to test limits, |
| often there are learning disorders as well. It's important | | | | make decisions, and think independently as they grow |
| to get a thorough evaluation to determine what else is | | | | up. You have a terrific opportunity to teach your child |
| going on, so you, the school, and a mental health | | | | how to develop these skills. It will likely be a difficult and |
| professional can work together to construct a | | | | tiring and frustrating struggle, but worth it. |
| program which can deal with all aspects of the | | | | There are lots of resources available at the library, at |
| problem. | | | | the bookstore, and on the web. It's worth your while to |
| Some kids do outgrow ODD. In some children, ODD will | | | | check some of them out, and to learn better parenting |
| mutate and become ADHD. Some children continue to | | | | skills, and then to take the necessary time to |
| have ODD, by itself, although this is not usual. Worst | | | | implement the skills and techniques you learn. Take |
| case, the defiant behaviors get worse, leading to the | | | | heart-- in most cases, all your hard work will gradually |
| child's being diagnosed with the more serious "Conduct | | | | effect positive changes, and the situation will improve. |