9781422272367

Over 50 million people around the world are affected by these disorders, many of which are characterized by a disregard for the feelings and rights of other people. Aggression and causing harm are gratifying to those who have these disorders. Adults with these disorders can lie, steal, and cheat. Rule-breaking is common with these disorders and adults may even be aggressive. The disorders are harder to detect in children. All kids from time to time act out; it is part of normal behavior. However, children with conduct disorders show these behaviors in a consistent and persistent pattern. All disorders in this category are described, but for the purposes of this book, we will focus mainly on one disruptive disorder called oppositional defiant disorder. Wyatt’s story is fairly descriptive for children with oppositional defiant disorder or ODD. According to the DSM-5 , oppositional defiant disorder occurs when a person (usually a child) shows an argumentative or defiant pattern of behavior, an angry or irritable mood, and/or a pattern of vindictiveness for a period of six months or longer. What Is Oppositional Defiant Disorder? It can be hard to tell the difference between normal acting out and oppositional defiant disorder. “Many children tend to disobey, argue with parents, or defy authority,” explains an overview by Stanford Children’s Health. “They may often behave this way when they are tired, hungry, or upset. But in children and teens with ODD, these symptoms happen more often and also interfere with learning and school adjustment. In some cases, the symptoms disrupt the child’s relationships with others.” 1 The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual identifies three characteristics of oppositional defiant disorder: anger/irritable mood; argumentative and defiant behaviors; and vindictiveness.

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Behavioral Disorders: Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders

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