Can Oppositional Defiant Disorder be prevented?
For preschool children, there is some evidence that programs such as Head Start and home visitation to high risk families can have a positive impact in areas related to Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). In school–age children, parent management, social skills training, conflict resolution and anger management programs have all been utilized with varying degrees of success. For adolescents, psycho-educational programs, including cognitive interventions and skills training, vocational training, and academic preparations appear to reduce the disruptive behaviors usually associated with ODD. A number of school-based prevention programs have also produced promising results. The focus of the school programs ranges from bullying prevention to interventions aimed at reducing anti-social behavior and helping children resist negative peer group influences. However, there is some evidence that group treatment can also have negative effects on outcome, especially among children and adolescents
