Common childhood onset symptom constellation dominated by negativism, temper tantrums, labile mood, aggression and quarrelsome attitude. Children with ODD may also manifest learned helplessness and a lack of self-esteeem. Signs of ODD usually show before 8 years-of-age, perhaps somewhat later, but always before the teenage period. The signs appear gradually and then get worse over months or years. In the States, ODD has a prevalence 10.2%, with 11.2% for males and 9.2% for females. However, there are problems with its diagnosis. To begin with, criteria found in DSM-IV differ somewhat for those in ICD-10. Moreover, there are differences between DSM-IV and DSM-V to reflect that ODD is not just a behavior disorder, but also demonstrates emotional and mood symptomatology. Then there is the problem of a marked co-morbidity with other disorders such as ADHD. There is, however, evidence to treat ODD as having a distinct nosology. The causes of ODD are unknown and treatment is generally carried out with medication, but rather by means of a behavioral approach.
See Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Aggressive behavior, Behavior problem, Co-morbidity, Conduct disorder, Learned helplessness, Nosology, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), Prevalence, Self-esteem, Temperament