Oppositional Defiant Disorder: What Is It And How To Detect These Behavioral Problems?
What is oppositional defiant disorder? How can we detect if our children have this behavioral disorder? Discover the symptoms and how to address this disorder.
He oppositional defiant disorder It is a behavioral disorder that usually affects children and adolescents who display a pattern of constantly defiant, aggressive, moody, and combative mood toward authority figures (such as parents and teachers). This disorder ends up affecting both the personal and school lives of those who suffer from it. But, how can we detect it and when is the intervention of a mental health professional necessary?
He oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) It is a disorder that generally arises during childhood, between six and eight years old, and can last until adulthood.
He oppositional defiant disorder It is much more than the normal ‘tantrums’ during childhood. In fact, the frequency and severity of this challenging behavior often ends up causing difficulties both in the family environment and at school. Oppositional defiant disorder is often related to other behavior-related learning problems.
Types of oppositional defiant disorder
There are two types of oppositional defiant disorder:
TND in early childhood: This behavioral disorder It occurs at an early age and requires the intervention of a specialist to prevent the disorder from ending in much more serious challenging behaviors.
Adolescent-onset ODD: It begins suddenly in the early years of adolescence and ends up causing many conflicts both at home and at school.
Children or adolescents who show this behavioral disorder They often pose a challenge for parents and educators. Their behavior is usually aggressive towards authority figures and their interactions with others also tend to involve different problems. Mainly, the most common signs and symptoms of oppositional defiant disorder are the following:
Get upset easily
Recurrently causing conflicts
Frequent tantrums
Low tolerance to frustration
Habitual lying
Bad mood and unprovoked anger
Ignoring the demands of authoritarian figures (parents, teachers)
Intentional aggressive attitude of others
It is important to keep in mind that these challenging behaviors They appear differently in each case. Normally, children with this oppositional defiant disorder usually present this behavior both at home and in other environments.
Diagnosis of oppositional defiant disorder in the DSM-5
According to the DSM-5, the diagnosis of this behavioral disorder or requires that the child have the vast majority of the following symptoms. These symptoms must occur for at least six months and have a negative impact on either social, educational, or occupational functioning:
Aggressive/irritable mood: is often resentful or angry. He is also easily upset and very touchy.
Challenging behavior: Shows a defiant attitude towards authority figures or adults. He often refuses to comply with requests from authority figures and often deliberately annoys others.
Revenge: Has been spiteful or vindictive at least twice in the last six months.
Causes of this childhood behavioral disorder
Currently, research has not determined a known cause of oppositional defiant disorder. Despite this, the cause of behavioral disorders is related to a combination of biological, psychological and social factors.
A parent with a history of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or oppositional defiant disorder
A parent with a mood disorder (such as depression or bipolar disorder).
A parent with a substance use disorder
A mother who smoked during pregnancy.
Abnormal levels of neurotransmitters in the brain.
Toxin exposure
Impairment in the part of the brain responsible for reasoning, judgment, and impulse control.
Poor nutrition
Psychological factors:
Negligent or absent parents
A bad relationship with parents
Difficulty or inability to form social relationships or process social cues.
Social factors:
Abuse or neglect
chaotic environment
Family instability (such as divorce or frequent moves)
Inconsistent discipline
Lack of supervision
Parents not involved in parenting
In some cases, the oppositional defiant disorder It appears along with other behavioral disorders or mental health problems, such as attention deficit or hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety disorders, depression, bipolar disorder or language disorders.
Treatment of behavioral disorders
In the event that your child presents the oppositional defiant disorder It is important that the intervention begins as soon as possible. Normally, treatment with a professional psychologist involves the following:
Family therapy: To address the challenging behavior psychologists can invite parents and siblings to attend therapy with the child to improve family interactions and relationships.
Psychotherapy: Individual therapy can help children learn new skills such as anger management and impulse control.
Social skills training: Defiant children and adolescents can present many difficulties in their personal relationships. Therefore, a good method to help them involves training social skills to avoid this type of behavior.
How to treat a defiant oppositional child?
If your children present this behavioral disorder It is important to go to a professional psychologist to address it with the best possible treatment. In addition, you can also be guided by the following:
Offer rewards for good behavior
Praise that positive behavior
Avoid power struggles
Set clear boundaries
Follow a specific schedule and routine
Spend time with them trying to do things you both enjoy
These are some tips that will help you cope with the oppositional defiant disorder of your son/daughter. Despite this, it is relevant to emphasize that challenging behavior will not change from one day to the next and that, therefore, change requires effort and perseverance from both parents and children.
