Signs of Personality Defiance Disorder

All kids express anger or talk back at some point. When the behavior becomes increasingly more hostile and consistently lasts for more than 6 months, the child should be taken to a physician and evaluated for Oppositional Defiant Disorder.

Signs

• Children with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) can be stubborn, difficult, disobedient, resentful, easily annoyed, argue with adults, lose their temper easily, blame others for mistakes they make, deliberately annoy others and struggle socially or academically.

Significance

• The behaviors associated with ODD typically start around the age of 8.

Causes

• Possible causes of ODD are the child's temperament, animosity in the home between parents, lack of supervision, inconsistency with rules and consequences, a head injury, a chemical imbalance in the brain (serotonin) or a predisposition to the disorder.

Treatment

• The best treatment for ODD is to seek the help of a mental health professional. Medication may also be prescribed to treat any underlying mental disorders like depression.

Warning

• Children with ODD can grow up to have conduct disorders as adults.