Is Oppostional Defiant Disorder common?
Oppositional Defiant Disorder is rarely the only diagnosis and is usually evident before age 8. ODD usually does not start after early adolescence. It is more frequently diagnosed in boys in early childhood, however, in adolescence the ratio is equal in both boys and girls with rates of 2% to 16% being reported. A residual rate of 75% of children diagnosed Oppositional Defiant Disorder will still fulfill the ODD criteria years later. In some cases, Oppositional Defiance is present before a child is later diagnosed with Conduct Disorder. Many of the characteristics are the same in the two disorders. However, the disruptive behaviors of Oppositional Defiance are not as severe as Conduct Disorder and typically do not include aggression toward people or animals, destruction of property or theft. How do these children get help? There are many approaches to helping children with Oppositional Defiant Disorder. Sometimes a child may benefit from medications prescribed by a psychiatrist. The mo
