XIV. Moving in With You: The Honeymoon
Oppositional Defiant Disorder(ODD)
ODD usually starts between the ages of one and three, when most of the symptoms are normal behaviour for all children. However, like ADHD, the defining characteristic is that the child does not outgrow them when other children do. ODD almost never occurs on its own; usually a child will also have ADHD or depression/anxiety, and it may turn into conduct disorder after a few years. Dyslexia is also a commonly co-occurring problem.
These are the typical diagnostic criteria for ODD:
- Loses temper at least twice a week,
- Argues with adults at least twice a week,
- Actively defies adults or refuses to comply with requests or rules at least twice a week,
- Continually tests parental rules and limits,
- Deliberately annoys people at least four times a week,
- Blames others for own mistakes or misbehaviour at least once every three months,
- Is touchy or easily annoyed by others at least twice a week,
- Is angry or resentful at least four times a week,
- Is stubborn,
- Is spiteful or vindictive at least once every three months.
One main difference between ODD and ADHD is that ODD kids know they are doing it and don’t care. ODD people have better social skills and are able to sit still (although if they also have ADHD they may still fidget). The combination of the two is very difficult to live with and very intractable.
ODD also runs in families: children with a birth parent who is an alcoholic and in trouble with the police have three times the chance of developing the condition as other children. ODD children sometimes outgrow it, as do some ADD and ADHD children. Most continue to have ODD, with 25% also developing disabling anxiety and mood problems by the end of primary school. Adulthood continues to be difficult for people with ODD and they often do best as self-employed people, and they need to keep away from alcohol, which makes their symptoms worse. Their behaviour isolates them socially.
© Roger Ridley Fenton
