What Causes Oppositional Defiant Disorder?

Oppositional defiant disorder, or ODD, is a behavioral disorder characterized by defiance, disobedience, negativity and hostility toward authority figures. ODD is more common in boys than in girls, and symptoms usually appear before the age of 8. Although there is no known clear single cause of oppositional defiant disorder, there are several possible conditional factors.

Biological Factors

• Oppositional defiant disorder might be caused by low levels of the neurotransmitters in the brain that control judgment, reasoning and impulse control. This might cause an ODD child to misinterpret the social cues of others and react with hostility.

Genetic Factors

• Oppositional defiant disorder might have a genetic link since ODD often runs in families. ODD also tends to be more predominant in children who have parents with attention deficit hyperactive disorder, bipolar disorder, depression or substance abuse problems.

Familial Factors

• Oppositional defiant disorder may be caused by dysfunctional family factors, such as divorce, marital conflict, family violence or child abuse. ODD might also stem from poor parent-child interaction, such as lack a of supervision or inconsistent discipline practices, rules and behavioral standards.

Socioeconomic Factors

• Many oppositional defiant disorder patients live in impoverished neighborhoods with high crime rates.

Co-Morbidity Factors

• Oppositional defiant disorder is frequently seen in children who also suffer from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, bipolar disorder, depressive disorder or anxiety disorder.

Treatment

• Oppositional defiant disorder treatment typically includes medicating other diagnosed disorders, cognitive behavioral therapy, anger management therapy and social skills training.