If your child experiences frequent outbursts or acts vindictive toward you and other authority figures, they may have a condition called oppositional child, or oppositional defiant disorder (ODD). At WCWCW, our team of board-certified children, adolescent psychiatrists and outstanding therapists specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of ODD. To make an appointment at the Bethesda, Maryland, office, or throughout Maryland and DC via telehealth, call or request an appointment online today.
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Oppositional child disorder is also known as oppositional defiant disorder (ODD). It’s a behavioral disorder in which a child is frequently angry, argumentative, or vengeful. While most children are defiant and rebellious at times, one with oppositional child disorder exhibits persistently challenging behavior for six months or more.
If your child regularly experiences outbursts, it can affect their relationships and their performance at school. Fortunately, with early intervention and treatment, it’s possible to encourage positive social interactions and reduce the incidence of problematic behavior.
Symptoms of oppositional child disorder include:
The severity of oppositional child disorder varies. Some children only act out in certain settings, like the classroom or church services. Others experience persistent symptoms that occur at home, in public, and elsewhere.
Researchers aren’t entirely sure what causes oppositional child disorder, but it’s thought various factors contribute, including genetics and environment. In some cases, there may be problems at home or at school that contribute to the development of oppositional child disorder.
If your child’s behavior has felt extreme over an extended period of time,, and their behavior is affecting other members of your family or causing problems at school, make an appointment at WCWCW. Following a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation, we will develop a custom treatment plan.
To diagnose oppositional child disorder, your child’s WCWCW clinician reviews their medical history and conducts a complete psychological evaluation. The evaluation includes an assessment of your child’s health, their emotions and behavior, and a discussion of how often they experience symptoms.
Treatment of oppositional child disorder involves a combination of counseling and family-based interventions. Medication typically isn’t necessary, unless your child has another underlying behavioral condition like anxiety, depression, or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Your child’s WCWCW clinician might recommend:
The goal of treatment is to reduce the frequency of emotional outbursts and encourage healthy social interactions.
To learn more about treatment for oppositional child disorder, call the WCWCW office or request an appointment online today.
