Oppositional Defiant Disorder is a behaviour disorder usually diagnosed at the time of childhood. The signs of ODD manifest in the preschool years. The disorder’s prevalence is between 1% and 11%, averaging at approximately 3.3%. Males are more likely to be diagnosed with ODD than females (1.4:1) before adolescence.
The DSM 5’s criteria of ODD characterizes it as a pattern of argumentative or defiant behaviour:
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Often observed arguing with adults (for children and teenagers) and authority figures.
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Actively refuses to comply with or defies rules or requests of authority figures.
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Often annoys others on purpose.
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A tendency to blame others for their misbehaviour or mistakes.
Vindictiveness (at least twice in the last six months) or,
Irritable or angry mood:
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Loses temper often
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Often easily annoyed or touchy
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Angry and resentful often.
These symptoms must last for a minimum of six months, and at least four of the symptoms must be present when interacting with an individual who is not a sibling.
Other than genetic and environmental causes, the developmental theory and the learning theory explain why ODD occurs:
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The developmental theory claims that issues begin at toddlerhood. The child might have had difficulty functioning independently from their parents or the adult to whom they were emotionally attached.
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The learning theory assumes that ODD’s symptoms stem from learned behaviours. These behaviours are a result of mirroring negative reinforcement from adults. They increase the occurrence of symptoms as they provide the child with what they desire; attention and reaction from authority figures.
Therapeutic interventions for the treatment of ODD include:
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Cognitive behavioural therapy to work on the child’s communication, impulse control, anger and problem-solving skills.
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Family therapy can help parents learn skills and strategies to manage their child’s ODD.
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Similarly, Parent-child interaction therapy can aid in guiding parents to adopt better parenting techniques.
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Peers group therapy is employed to help the child improve their interactions and social skills with other children.
Importance of Professional Counseling: A friend or family member may listen to you, but they aren’t professionally, technically qualified or experienced to offer you professional advice. If you wish you can contact us at MindTribe to receive help from our team of expert psychologists.
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About the Author.
Shwetha Varshini Gottumukkala is a psychologist at MindTribe.in. You can learn more about her by clicking here
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of MindTribe.in, the Founders, or management team.
Acknowledgement: All images used are open source and from Unsplash.