Oppositional Defiant Disorder

Course overview

Behaviors associated with oppositional defiant disorder generally become evident prior to age 8 years and are easily confused with those behaviors typical of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and conduct disorder. The degree of reactivity differentiating normal stage development of defiant behaviors from clinically significant pathological behavior usually occurs around age 6. Rarely does onset occur later than early adolescence and symptoms typically abate during middle childhood. Prevalence of ODD ranges from 1% to 11%, but rates of occurrence were dependent on both the population sampled as well as the methods used to determine applicability. Although it is not a common disorder, it is regularly seen in children in clinical populations. Symptoms are usually present in the home setting prior to becoming evident in other settings.