What kind of disorder is odd

Skip to main content. Behavioural conditions. Home Behavioural conditions. Oppositional defiant disorder ODD. Actions for this page Listen Print. Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. Oppositional defiant disorder ODD is a childhood behavioural problem characterised by constant disobedience and hostility. Around one in 10 children under the age of 12 years are thought to have ODD, with boys outnumbering girls by two to one. ODD is one of a group of behavioural disorders known collectively as disruptive behaviour disorders, which include conduct disorder CD and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ADHD.

People with conduct disorder are likely to engage in: serious law-breaking behavior destruction of property cruelty to animals and people A child diagnosed with ODD is not automatically going to develop conduct disorder.

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Kevin B. Churchwell, President and CEO. Connect with Boston Children's Hospital. How can we help? Even the most mild-mannered children have occasional outbursts of frustration and disobedience. But a persistent pattern of anger, defiance, and vindictiveness against authority figures could be a sign of oppositional defiant disorder ODD. ODD is a behavioral disorder that results in defiance and anger against authority.

ODD affects between 1 and 16 percent of school age children. Many children start to show symptoms of ODD between the ages of 6 and 8 years. ODD also occurs in adults. Adults with ODD who were not diagnosed as children often go undiagnosed. None of these symptoms alone points to ODD.

There needs to be a pattern of multiple symptoms occurring over a period of at least six months. There is some overlap in ODD symptoms between children and adults. Symptoms in adults with ODD include:. The disorder is often difficult to diagnose in adults because many of the symptoms overlap with antisocial behaviors , substance abuse, and other disorders.

There is no proven cause of ODD, but there are theories that can help identify potential causes. One theory suggests ODD can begin to develop when children are toddlers, because children and adolescents with ODD show behaviors fairly typical of toddlers.

This theory also suggests that the child or adolescent is struggling to become independent from parental or authority figures they were emotionally attached to. This is especially true if the child uses bad behavior to get attention. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic.

Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Oppositional defiant disorder. Arlington, Va. Accessed Nov. Gabbard GO, ed. Oppositional defiant disorder. In: Gabbard's Treatments of Psychiatric Disorders. Oppositional defiant disorder ODD.

Merck Manual Professional Version. Facts for families: Children with oppositional defiant disorder. American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Oppositional defiant disorder: A guide for families.