Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD) in Lexington, Richmond & Frankfort KY

Parenting a strong willed and/or very emotional child makes the job so much more challenging. But there is a difference in a strong willed child and a child who has Oppositional Defiant Disorder. You can get help in differentiating the two with the help of a mental health professional who specializes in helping children.

ODD is a disorder that begins in childhood. The symptoms, according the DSM-5 (the manual used by mental health providers to make mental health diagnosis), are as follows: A pattern of angry or irritable mood, argumentative/defiant behavior, or vindictiveness lasting at least 6 months and may include the following symptoms:

• Often loses temper
• Is often touchy or easily annoyed
• Is often angry and resentful
• Often argues with authority figures or adults
• Often actively defies or refuses to comply with request from authority or follow rules
• Often deliberately annoys others
• Often blames others for his or her mistakes or misbehavior
• Has been spiteful or vindictive

Children with ODD may have trouble at home, at school, or with other authority figures, and they may struggle to make and keep friends and relationships. ODD can lead to problems in school work, antisocial behaviors, impulse control problems, conduct disorder, and potentially suicidal behaviors. If ODD is not treated symptoms can become worse and can persist into adolescents and adulthood.

There's no known clear cause of oppositional defiant disorder. Contributing causes may be a combination of inherited, a child’s natural disposition and possible differences in the brain function, and environmental factors. Environmental factors include problems with parenting that may involve a lack of supervision, inconsistent and/or harsh discipline, or abuse or neglect.

Treatment

Many kids with ODD have co-occurring mental health conditions. These can often include: ADHD, depression, anxiety, and learning disorders. Treatment of the other conditions may improve ODD symptoms. It is very difficult to address symptoms of ODD if other diagnosis are not evaluated and treated.  

Treatment for ODD is most helpful when it a combination of the following are used:

• Parent training. This can be done individually or in a parenting group. The goal would be to create a parenting and discipline model that is consistent and can be implemented in the home.
  
• Parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT). PCIT can be used for younger children. It is an evidence based therapy approach that improves relationship and problems with behavior decrease. This is an approach that incorporates training the parent in specific positive techniques for interacting with the child. It also teaches a system for discipline.
• Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT). This therapy approach helps children/adolescents identify and change thought patterns that are connected to emotions that may lead to behavioral problems.
• Social Skills Training. This training can be a very helpful approach in assisting the child in being aware of expected and unexpected behaviors and how those impact the thoughts and feelings of others. The social Learning approach can also help your child to become a more “flexible” thinker.

Treatment can be sought by a mental health specialist. A therapist or counselor is often a Licensed  Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), a Psychologist, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), or a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPCC).

There are ways to help your child and improve symptoms

According to American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, parents need support and understanding. Parents can help their child with ODD in the following ways:

• Always build on the positives, give the child praise and positive reinforcement when he shows flexibility or cooperation.
  
• Take a time-out or break if you are about to make the conflict with your child worse, not better. This is good modeling for your child. Support your child if he decides to take a time-out to prevent overreacting.
• Pick your battles. Since the child with ODD has trouble avoiding power struggles, prioritize the things you want your child to do. If you give your child a time-out in his room for misbehavior, don’t add time for arguing. Say “your time will start when you go to your room.”
• Set up reasonable, age appropriate, limits with consequences that can be enforced consistently.
• Maintain interests other than your child with ODD, so that managing your child doesn’t take all your time and energy. Try to work with and obtain support from the other adults (teachers, coaches, and spouse) dealing with your child.
• Manage your own stress with healthy life choices such as exercise and relaxation. Take breaks as needed

Resources

Ross Green, The Explosive Child, A new approach for understanding parenting easily frustrated, and chronically inflexible children.

Thomas Phelan, 1-2-3 Magic: Managing difficult behavior in children 2-12. www.123magic.com

https://childmind.org/guide/quick-guide-to-oppositional-defiant-disorder/