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Oppositional Defiant Disorder Analysis

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Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) is one of the most prevailing and expensive mental health problems for children and teen agers. Approximately 5% to 10% of 8 to 16 year-olds present with ODD behavior problems ( Erford,et al. 2013). Oppositional Defiant Disorder is part of the disruptive behavior disorders (DBD) group, given this name because those who are diagnosed disrupt people in their environment. According to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry from 2013, physicians define ODD as “ a pattern of disobedient, hostile, and defiant behavior directed toward authority figures. Children and adolescents with ODD often rebel, are stubborn, argue with adults, and refuse to obey. They have angry outbursts and have a hard …show more content…

These patterns last for at least 6 months (APA, 2013). ODD has also been associated with excessive arguing, cognitive and social deficits, and significant adult–child and child–peer interaction problems. Youth with ODD demonstrate high rates of aggressive and antisocial behaviors, with a subset displaying callousness and psychopathic traits, including a lack of guilt, empathy, and remorse. It is important to note the difference between ODD and CD (conduct disorder). The defining characteristic of oppositional defiant disorder is a fight against being controlled. For a child like this, being controlled feels like drowning. CD is used to describe an older child or adolescent who has moved into a pattern of violating the rights of others through intimidation or aggression. This could be against people or animals, and include more serious violations such as theft and vandalism.. The DSM-5, a diagnostic handbook used by mental health professionals, describes these individuals as having “a callous and unemotional interpersonal style.” (Colins & Andershed, 2015). These adolescents lack empathy. Children with CD and callous–unemotional (CU) traits present with patterns of persistent and violent antisocial behaviour which include low empathy and guilt and shallow affect. Currently, CU is considered a subtype for conduct disorder, according to the

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