What is Oppositional Defiant Disorder?

Parents may experience living with a teenager that is defiant some of the time. It can put a strain on their relationship causing a wedge to be driven between them. Many parents can assume there is a problem with their child due to being oppositional.¹Boylan, Khrista. “The Many Faces of Oppositional Defiant Disorder – PMC.” PubMed Central (PMC), www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3917664. Accessed 12 Oct. 2022. However, children who are defiant show a healthy sign of development in their relationships with their parents.

A parent not used to their child being suddenly defiant can be alarmed. It may send them searching for a reason for the new behavior. Parents may find that oppositional defiant disorder is very similar to what they experience from their child. There is a difference to oppositional defiant disorder and children just being merely defiant as they grow into their teen years.

Mental health specialists explain that oppositional defiant disorder involves issues relating to the control of emotions and behaviors. The disorder includes aggression, arguing, conflict, and the destruction of property.²Ghosh, Abhishek, et al. “Oppositional Defiant Disorder: Current Insight – PMC.” PubMed Central (PMC), 29 Nov. 2017, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5716335.

Teen challenges vs. Oppositional defiant disorder

Teenagers can often struggle to find the right fit at school, home, and in their personal lives. Individuals go through rapid changes during their teenage years as their bodies develop on the inside and outside. Many teens with new freedoms will push back against parents and challenge the established rules parents have set out.

Families may have to deal with a variety of issues as their children grow up. However, teens challenging their parents’ rules are different than in young people dealing with oppositional defiant disorder. The biggest differences between the two areas lies in the frequency, persistence, and prevalence of defiance through different situations.³Jones, Sara H. “Oppositional Defiant Disorder: An Overview and Strategies for Educators.” Oppositional Defiant Disorder: An Overview and Strategies for Educators, journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1048371317708326. Accessed 12 Oct. 2022.

Parents need to account for their teenager’s age, gender, and any cultural issues that may exist. In addition, defiance can occur due to trauma or delays in a person’s development. Oppositional defiant disorder is often diagnosed by mental health specialists when a child is of early elementary school age.⁴Lavigne, John. “DEFINE_ME.” DEFINE_ME, www.jaacap.org/article/S0890-8567(09)60838-8/abstract. Accessed 12 Oct. 2022. Diagnosis often end around adolescence.⁵MedlinePlus. “Oppositional Defiant Disorder: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia.” Oppositional Defiant Disorder: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia, medlineplus.gov/ency/article/001537.htm. Accessed 12 Oct. 2022.

Children suffering from oppositional defiant disorder often have an established pattern of problem behaviors. Oppositional defiant disorder symptoms may include:

• Child is often angry and irritable
• Quick and frequent losing of temper
• Becoming easily annoyed
• Verbally fighting with authority figures
• Refusing to follow established rules
• Deliberately harassing or annoying people
• Blaming other people for mistakes
• Being vindictive

Does oppositional defiance disorder only appear in boys?

Symptoms are different in boys and girls. Although the difference is small, boys can show more physical aggression. Boys can have explosive tempers and show acts of violence. This can lead to the destruction of property or fighting.⁶Schoorl, Jantiene, et al. “Emotion Regulation Difficulties in Boys With Oppositional Defiant Disorder/Conduct Disorder and the Relation With Comorbid Autism Traits and Attention Deficit Traits.” Emotion Regulation Difficulties in Boys With Oppositional Defiant Disorder/Conduct Disorder and the Relation With Comorbid Autism Traits and Attention Deficit Traits | PLOS ONE, 15 July 2016, journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0159323.

Girls can show similar signs of aggression and angry.⁷Trepat, Esther. “Sex Differences in Oppositional Defiant Disorder – PubMed.” PubMed, 1 Nov. 2011, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22047856. Parents may find their daughters to be more manipulative, tell more lies, and refuse to cooperate. Minor disputes can escalate and self-harm threats can be made with the claim of committing suicide.

Parents can feel overwhelmed with a child displaying oppositional defiance disorder. A family therapist can help parents come to terms with their child’s mental health.⁸Mayo Clinic. “Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) – Symptoms and Causes.” Mayo Clinic, 25 Jan. 2018, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/oppositional-defiant-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20375831. A child will be referred to a residential center by a mental health professional to get the help they need.

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