Oppositional Defiant Disorder is defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical manual of Mental disorders - Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR) as a pattern of negativistic behavior which significantly impairs functioning in more than one area (i.e at home and at school, or school and community) and has lasted for at least 6 months. Is is important to note that all children show annoying, oppositional and defiant behavior from time to time. This is developmentally appropriate and part of how kids find their way in the world. Kids often feel the need to bump up against or push boundaries to check that they are indeed there and are strong.

Examples of behaviors exhibited by these kids on an ongoing and frequent basis are:

• often loses temper
• often argues with adults
• often actively defies or refuses to comply with adults' requests or rules
• often deliberately annoys people
• often blames others for his or her mistakes or misbehavior
• is often touchy or easily annoyed by others
• is often angry and resentful
• is often spiteful or vindictive

As a result, these kids often have problems making & maintaining friendships, have significantly more conflict at home and school and often drive their parents to distraction. What is important to realize, is that kids speak with their behavior. Abstract language abilities actually develop later than most people realize, that's why asking a kid a rhetorical question such as "Did you really think it was a good idea to be throwing the ball inside?" will probably be met with "yes" or " I don't know" or "but I wanted to". As annoying and frustrating as these responses are, they are examples of a child's developmental level, not an attempt to "be smart" or actively annoy their questioner.

Why is this important to know? Because kids diagnosed with ODD are not happy campers. Seems obvious, but we often forget. No one wants to get into trouble constantly, and these are not dumb kids (which often makes it more frustrating for parent's because you expect them to know, understand and comply because you now it's a good idea). Similarly, many if these kids are truly mystified by their own behaviors, and would really like to do better if they knew how. And here's the next bummer, just telling them doesn't cut it.

Think of it this way, remember your last diet attempt? (groan..), well, everyone pretty much knows what we need to do to lose weight, we need to eat less and/or better and exercise more, so why is dieting so hard? It's much harder to change a behavior than to verbalize what you need to do. Describing riding a bicycle is easier than learning to do it. So, what's the key - practice, of course. Children learn by modelling (yup, for better or worse), which is why you have to watch your language & conversation topics around young children or your two year old's first words are likely to be unmentionable or at least acutely embarrassing.

Studies show that certain parenting styles - know as authoritarian parenting, is frequently associated with oppositional and defiant behavior in children. That's not to blame the parent, but it does show the power of modelling in how children develop their behaviors. Authoritarian parents tend to be the "do as say, not as I do" type parents, demand obedience, issue harsh punishments and do not negotiate. These parents may initially have very compliant children, but that is due to fear, not internalizing any of this tends to lead to behavior based on fear of punishment or getting caught, not an understanding of why one should not engage in that behavior. What these studies show is that parent's actual behaviors are closely observed and mimicked by their children, and that those behaviors are the one's which have the most impact on the development of the child's own behaviors.

Oppositional Defiant Disorder is a complex, frequently multi-layered problem and is somewhat limited by the fact that it is primarily behavioral in description and gives no real understanding of why these behaviors develop. Parenting styles, as mentioned above and modelling seem to have some impact on the development of oppositional and defiant behaviors.

What is also important to recognize - and a whole separate article - is that oppositional and defiant behaviors are signs that something is wrong and as much as it may feel like a personal, parental attack, it's a signal that your child is not happy, not coping and not knowing what to do about it. These behaviors are frequently seen in children with mood disorders, anxiety disorders, developmental delays and significant family discord. It is important to have your child evaluated by a trained mental health professional to determine the nature and origin of the symptoms and to develop treatment interventions.

Recent studies have shown that anti-social, oppositional and defiant behaviors have actually be a predictor of future depression in girls, so these behaviors may not only be the result of certain disorders, but may be the early warning signs, in girls of future mood difficulties. Needless to say, this has significant implications for treatment, but that's an article in itself.....stay tuned

Oppositional Defiant Disorder is a complex, frequently multi-layered problem and is somewhat limited by the fact that it is primarily behavioral in description and gives no real understanding of why these behaviors develop. Parenting styles, as mentioned above and modelling seem to have some impact on the development of oppositional and defiant behaviors.

What is also important to recognize - and a whole separate article - is that oppositional and defiant behaviors are signs that something is wrong and as much as it may feel like a personal, parental attack, it's a signal that your child is not happy, not coping and not knowing what to do about it. These behaviors are frequently seen in children with mood disorders, anxiety disorders, developmental delays and significant family discord. It is important to have your child evaluated by a trained mental health professional to determine the nature and origin of the symptoms and to develop treatment interventions.

Recent studies have shown that anti-social, oppositional and defiant behaviors have actually be a predictor of future depression in girls, so these behaviors may not only be the result of certain disorders, but may be the early warning signs, in girls of future mood difficulties. Needless to say, this has significant implications for treatment, but that's an article in itself.....stay tuned