Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)

Disruptive Behavior (or Conduct) Disorder

Conduct Disorder is also known as “Disruptive Behavior Disorder” for good reason. Someone with conduct disorder has the ability to disrupt any environment he or she is in, and the disorder has a great impact on families, neighborhoods and schools.

Conduct disorder is difficult to define. It refers to a group of behavioral and emotional problems in children and adolescents. Unfortunately, young people with this disorder are often viewed as “bad” or “troublemakers” instead of being seen as having a mental health problem.

Statistics and Trends

The exact number of youth affected by conduct disorder is not known, but according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, it is probably between 1 and 4 percent of 9-to-17-year-olds in the United States. The disorder seems to be more common in boys than girls.

Another disorder called Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) is thought to be a precursor of conduct disorder. In other words, some people who exhibit signs of ODD as a young child go on to develop conduct disorder when they get older. Although conduct disorder usually develops and is diagnosed in older children, some research has shown that some infants who appear especially fussy, are victims of neglect or abuse, or are born into poverty, among other factors, are more likely to develop a conduct disorder.

The exact cause of conduct disorder is unknown, but some of the factors that might contribute to the development of the disorder are brain damage, child abuse, genetic or biological factors, school failure and other traumatic life experiences.

Signs and Symptoms

Young people with conduct disorder have a lot of difficulty following rules and behaving in an acceptable way. They show a pattern of violating personal or property rights of others for a six month period or longer.

Symptoms of conduct disorder include:

Aggressive behavior
Causing harm to other people or animals
Lying
Stealing
Destruction of property (vandalism)
Serious violations of rules at school or home (runs away from home or skips school)
Early substance abuse
Early sexual activity

Diagnosis and Treatment

Children and teens exhibiting any of the behaviors associated with conduct disorder should receive a comprehensive medical evaluation by a professional. They may also be dealing with other conditions such as mood disorders, anxiety, substance abuse, ADHD, impulse problems or depression. Treatment, including medication, for these conditions may be needed.

Treating conduct disorder usually requires behavior therapy and psychotherapy to help a young person learn to express and control anger. Parent training in management techniques may also be helpful. Treatment for conduct disorder is a long-term process and can be challenging.

What Parents Can Do

Children and teens with conduct disorder often experience higher rates of depression, suicidal thoughts, injuries, trouble with the law, problems in school, trouble making friends, and sexually transmitted diseases. In order to try to avoid these ongoing problems, families need to seek help early. Without treatment these problems will most likely continue into adulthood. Despite the difficulty in treating this disorder, the earlier it is identified and treated the better the chance for success.

Parents should pay careful attention to the signs, talk with a mental health professional, and get as much accurate information about the disorder as possible. One source of information is http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov. This government organization offers free and easy to read fact sheets on a variety of children’s mental health disorders.

Sources

www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov

www.aacap.org

May 9th, 2012 by April Weir. Posted in Conduct Disorders, Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), Troubled Teen Diagnoses

Bad Attitude or ODD Disorder?

No parent of a teenager can escape the occasional friendly fire of their child’s bad attitude. For most young people (and to the chagrin of parents everywhere), rebellious, defiant behavior is as normal as acne or peer pressure. However, if this behavior is new or sudden, becomes more serious or entrenched, or if it seems to be going on longer than a normal phase of adolescence, your teen may be edging into ODD territory.

ODD is Oppositional Defiant Disorder, a serious behavioral condition for teenagers that can derail family relationships and school performance. Knowing the signs of ODD is a useful start in determining if your child may be headed for trouble:

Hostility, including with teachers, parents, family, and friends
Pessimistic feelings, such as always taking a negative view (“I’ll never learn how to do this.”)
Defiance, such as disregard for rules and authority
Being argumentative, including critical and nit-picky behavior
Bullying or other aggressive tendencies
Anger or tantrums, including seemingly unprovoked angry outbursts and becoming easily frustrated
Resentful, which can include jealousy or envy of what others have
Unusually petty behaviors, such as stinginess or tattling

ODD is seen as a constellation of symptoms and behaviors, and not every teenager with ODD will display all of these signs. The disorder usually appears between ages 6 and 14, with one or two signs showing up at home, leaking out later to public places or in school. Students with ODD are a constant source of classroom disruption, so this defiant behavior can jeopardize the teen’s chances at academic success in the future, not to mention relationships with peers, teachers, and family.

Unfortunately, ODD rarely goes away on its own, and it usually gets worse over time. But virtually every ODD case can be treated; options include behavior modification, talk therapy, medications, and programs outside the home, including outdoor and wilderness programs. Most therapists will recommend a combination of these options.

A teenager whose ODD persists despite treatment may have a more serious condition called Conduct Disorder (CD), which can lead to criminal behavior, bullying, and other forms of violence.

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