A child who misbehaves, is disrespectful or hostile and often loses his temper may have a condition known as oppositional defiant disorder. The "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" states that these behaviors cause impairments in school and social functioning and occur more frequently than in other children of the same age. The typical age for the disorder is prior to age 8 and not after adolescence. Several treatments can help families cope with these maladaptive behaviors.
Individual Counseling
Counseling with the child can be helpful to address issues such as anger management, behavior modification and social skills training. The Mayo Clinic states that social skills training is important, because it helps the child interact more effectively with others in non-aggressive ways. Some children may undergo play therapy, a non-threatening form of counseling for younger children. Older children have more awareness and communication skills and can have an active role in therapy. In conjunction with individual counseling, parents or caregivers might meet with a therapist to address and change any inconsistent or misdirected parenting techniques that may be contributing to the child's behavior.
Family Counseling
Problems with a defiant child are most often noted in schools and at home. Family counseling can unite family members by helping to change maladaptive communication styles and to address problems in a neutral environment. Through family counseling, mutual goals can be set that will benefit the family unit as a whole. This will, in turn, help to unite the family members while they work together to achieve the goals agreed upon in therapy.
Parent Training
Parents and caretakers are often frustrated and overwhelmed by the defiant child's behavior. Parent skills training can be effective, because it reminds parents to discipline consistently and effectively, model good behaviors and give unconditional love and support to their child. Living with a defiant child can be extremely stressful, and one of the goals of parent training is to choose which behaviors will be disciplined and which are minor and can be ignored. Sometimes, these parent training sessions are conducted in groups with other parents. Parents benefit from feedback and advice from other parents who are going through similar challenges.
Medication
Many children with oppositional defiant disorder also suffer from other disorders, such as ADHD, anxiety and depression. The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry states that although there is no medication specifically used to treat oppositional defiant disorder, drugs are sometimes used to treat these co-existing disorders.
References
- "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition"; Amerian Psychiatric Association; 2000
- American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: Your child--Oppositional Defiant Disorder
- Mayo Clinic:Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)
