What is ODD?

Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD) is a behavior diagnosis most often seen in childhood. It is marked by angry, irritable mood, argumentative/defiant behavior, and vindictiveness. The behaviors must be present for at least 6 months, and exhibited in interactions with at least one individual who is not a sibling. The disturbance in behavior is associated with distress in the individual or others in his or her immediate social context (e.g., family, peer group, work colleagues) or it impacts negatively on social, educational, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. Oppositional Defiance Disorder is a standalone diagnosis in the DSM-5.

It can be really difficult to tease out what behaviors are within the range of healthy social emotional development, and which could be signs of ODD. There is some controversy surrounding the ODD diagnosis and many clinicians argue that symptoms of ODD could also be responses to trauma, signs of depression, due to social anxiety, or other typical life stressors.

If you think your child may have ODD, you may want to talk to a professional to help determine if that diagnosis is accurate. If your child has received an ODD diagnosis, you may want to get a consultation/second opinion from another professional to confirm the diagnosis and plan.