Your child's behavior is ruining your life?

Is your child or teenager angry, irritable, argumentative or defiant toward parents and other authority figures frequently? Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) may be the reason why. All children misbehave once and a while but if your child’s behavior is disrupting everyone’s life in the household then read below.

What is Oppositional defiant disorder?

Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is a “disruptive behavior disorder characterized by a pattern of angry or irritable mood, argumentative or defiant behavior, or vindictiveness lasting for at least six months” (Riley, Ahmed, & Locke,2016). You may notice that your child or teenager has a difficult time controlling their temper often.

Symptoms:

According to the Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.) (DSM-5), symptoms include:

Angry / Irritable Mood

• Losing temper often, easily annoyed, often angry and resentful.

• Argumentative or Defiant

• Frequently argues with authority figures such as parents or other adults.

• Refuses to comply with rules or request from authority figures.

• Blames others.

• Purposely annoys others such as siblings.

Vindictiveness

• Has been malicious or spiteful (at least twice in the last 6 months).

These symptoms can occur only at home and/or only with family members or in every setting, such as school and at home (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).

Children and teens with ODD can develop other issues as adults such as anxiety, depression or substance abuse. It is important to seek a professional opinion and diagnoses as soon as parent/guardian is aware of symptoms. This can begin by speaking to the child’s primary physician and obtaining a possible referral to a mental health professional. The mental health professional will not have a need to use any special equipment or fancy tools (Riley et al., 2016). Diagnosis may be based on observation and multiple questionnaires.

Treatment:

-Behavioral therapy for the child/teen, along with his/her family members can help improve symptoms of ODD.

-Medications are not usually the first option for treatment unless there is a presence of one or more additional disorders co-occurring with ODD such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), conduct disorder, and mood disorders (Riley et al., 2016). Treating the co-occurring disorder may also help improve ODD.

Children and teens with behavioral or emotional problems can struggle through life. Finding professional help as soon as possible can help your child live life to his/her potential.

References

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.

Riley, M., Ahmed, S., & Locke, A. (2016). Common questions about oppositional defiant disorder. American Family Physician, 93(7), 586.