Oppositional Defiant Disorder

Joshua J. Masse & Cheryl B. McNeil

Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is a condition prevalent in a significant percentage of children that adversely impacts the individual and also affects the family, school, community, and society. Early awareness of and intervention in ODD is crucial in stopping a potentially dangerous and destructive progression to a more serious disorder. However, as oppositional behavior is a normal part of development for young children and early adolescents, clinicians need to exercise caution when assessing and diagnosing ODD in order to avoid misdiagnosis. The American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) defines ODD as a childhood disorder characterized by an ongoing and persistent pattern of hostile, noncompliant, and resistant behaviors manifested toward authority figures. In order to attain a diagnosis of ODD, behaviors must consistently occur for at least 6 months. Individuals with ODD are often described as stubborn, easily angered, argumentative, verbally aggressive, quickly ODD ...

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