Oppositional Defiance Disorder & School

Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD) is a psychiatric disorder. It affects males and females equally, although in very young children it is more common in males. ODD at school presents serious problems for teachers and other students, since these children are often difficult to deal with and prone to temper flares.

Significance

• ODD is the most common psychiatric illness in children. More than 5 percent of children have ODD. These children often have a hard time dealing with the rules and expectations at school.

Time Frame

• The symptoms of ODD often present between the ages of 1 and 3. By school age, the symptoms are always present.

Identification

• The symptoms of ODD have to last at least six months before a doctor can make a diagnosis. These symptoms include intentional oppositional and defiant conduct, including arguing and disrespecting adults and purposely irritating others.

Effects

• Children with ODD are difficult to handle at school. ODD makes social interaction difficult, and they are frequently arguing with adults. They try to annoy others, so they are always getting into trouble.

Considerations

• ODD almost always presents with another disorder. Frequently, the ODD child also has other issues including ADHD, depression and anxiety. Conduct disorder (CD) is a more severe form of ODD, and the severe cases of ODD may turn into CD. Because CD is a severe disorder leading to violence and law-breaking, it is imperative to watch severe cases of ODD to catch possible cases of CD.