Oppositional defiant disorder

When a child is acting out—ignoring rules, goading others, erupting in defiance at being told “no”—the entire family is disrupted. You may feel helpless to control your child’s anger, unsure how to respond or at a loss as to how to return some sense of stability and normalcy to the family environment. You may also find yourself with more questions—What is wrong with my child? How can we keep our family together in the midst of all this chaos?—than answers.

Children’s Hospital Boston’s team of caring, expert clinicians is here to help. First, it might be beneficial to learn as much as you can about your child’s condition:

• Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is a commonly diagnosed disruptive behavior disorder, a group of behavioral problems rooted in frequent episodes of anger and an intolerance of authority.
   
• The term “oppositional” refers to actions that go against rules and norms for socially acceptable behavior.
   
• Children with ODD typically engage in a persistent pattern of angry outbursts, arguments and disobedience.
   
• While this behavior is usually directed at authority figures, like parents and teachers, it can also target siblings, classmates and other children.

It may also help you to know that you’re not alone. Oppositional defiant disorder is a relatively common problem, and with the right care, it can be treated with a great degree of success.

How Children’s Hospital Boston approaches oppositional defiant disorder

Children’s has a long history of pioneering important advances in behavioral and mental health for children, adolescents and families. Our Department of Psychiatry clinicians are committed to evidence-based treatments—therapies that have been tested and proven effective through careful scientific analysis, both here at our hospital and at other top health centers around the world.

At the same time, we practice medicine that’s patient-focused and family-centered. We never lose sight of the fact that your child is, first and foremost, an individual—not merely a patient—and we include your family at every stage of the treatment process.

Here at Children's, our clinicians use several techniques to treat oppositional defiant disorder, including:

• parenting modification strategies
• social and emotional skills training for children
• in some cases, the addition of medication to the therapy plan

Working with your clinician, you can make a difference for your child by learning and using new:

• communication skills
• parenting skills
• conflict resolution skills
• anger management skills
   

Oppositional defiant disorder: Reviewed by David R. DeMaso, MD
© Children’s Hospital Boston, 2010