| "Obsessive defiant disorders", usually referred to as | | | | ODD doesn't usually occur by itself. Most authorities |
| "Oppositional Defiant Disorder" or "ODD", is a diagnosis | | | | think that 50-65% of ODD children have ADD/ADHD. |
| given to children of any age who consistently evidence | | | | Many have learning disorders, serious depression or |
| most or all of the following negative behaviors: | | | | anxiety, or bipolar disorder. |
| 1. Refusal to do what they're told | | | | If your child is diagnosed with ODD, or you think he |
| 2. Frequent loss of temper | | | | may have it, it's important to have your child evaluated |
| 3. Blame others for their own mistakes | | | | for other disorders. A full picture of what's going on |
| 4. Stubbornness | | | | beneath the surface is necessary before you have |
| 5. Manipulative | | | | much hope of successfully dealing with the anger and |
| 6. Touchy, easily annoyed | | | | defiance. |
| 7. Frequently arguing with adults | | | | Prognosis: |
| 8. Deliberately annoying others | | | | About half of pre-schoolers labeled ODD are |
| 9. Resentful, spiteful, vindictive | | | | considered normal by age 8. Older ODD children have |
| 10. Unkind | | | | a harder time-about 75% will still be ODD later in life. |
| 11. Seeking Revenge | | | | Sometimes the behavior escalates, and the child will be |
| Children whose negative behavior escalates to the | | | | diagnosed with Conduct Disorder, a more serious |
| point of being diagnosed with ODD were often | | | | disorder that typically involves callous disregard of the |
| demanding and rigid and difficult early on. | | | | rights and feelings of others, cruelty to people and/or |
| Of course, normal children exhibit instances of defiant | | | | animals, serious rule-breaking, and criminal behavior. |
| behavior, especially during age 2-3 and the teenage | | | | It's important to attempt to deal with the ODD as |
| years. ODD is diagnosed when the behavior becomes | | | | quickly and as early as possible for obvious reasons, |
| extreme and frequent. It's a serious issue, because it | | | | and especially to avoid the escalation to Conduct |
| can interfere with the child's relationships, his | | | | Disorder. |
| adjustment to school, and his learning. There is a quick | | | | The most effective treatment for ODD seems to be |
| screening test that you can use if you think your child | | | | Parent Management Training, or "PMT". |
| may have ODD. Just do a web search on "ODD | | | | Parents are taught the proper and consistent use of |
| Screening Test." | | | | reinforcement for good behavior, and to ignore |
| There are two theories of the cause: | | | | negative behaviors where possible. The parent is |
| Some think that it's a result of the child's incomplete | | | | taught to use the new techniques on relatively simple |
| development. Somehow the child never successfully | | | | situations at first, tackling more serious issues as he |
| completed the developmental steps that normal | | | | becomes more skilled. |
| children master as they go through toddlerhood. | | | | Other treatment may involve medication, play therapy, |
| They're stuck in the defiant stage of the "terrible twos." | | | | family therapy, even boarding schools or boot camps. |
| Another school of thought is that it's a response to | | | | There is hope! Most troubled, angry, defiant kids do |
| negative relationships and interactions with parents and | | | | grow up to be law-abiding and responsible, with |
| other authority figures. | | | | pleasant relationships between child and parents. |