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