Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Overview
Causes
The cause is not known. It may be a mix of genes, family, and social factors.
Child's Brain |
A chemical imbalance in the brain may be responsible for ODD. |
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Risk Factors
This problem is more common in children with long-term obesity. Other things that may raise a child's risk are:
- Family members with the same problems
- A parent who has problems with:
- Mood
- Learning
- Substance misuse
- Birth parent used alcohol, smoked, or had a poor diet while pregnant
- Problems with how the family works at home
- Past child abuse
- Lack of parent attention
SymptomsandDiagnosis
Symptoms
A child's problems start at around 8 years old. They tend to get worse as time goes on.
Children with ODD often:
- Argue with adults
- Lose their tempers
- Do not follow what an adult tells them to do
- Annoy others on purpose
- Are angry, bitter, and easily annoyed
- Are spiteful or want to get back at others
- Blame others for their own mistakes
- Have low self-esteem
Treatments
Treatment
The goal is to stop problem behaviors. Options are:
- Parent training
- Individual or group counseling—to help children learn to express and control anger
- Social skills training—to help a child get along better with peers
- Medicines used with other treatments—to help ease certain symptoms, such as mood swings
This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.
Edits to original content made by Denver Health.
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