Who knows anything about ODD?

[Cindy B]

I'm having some issues with one of my kids, and its looking like either Aspergers or ODD. It even could be a combination of both.

I have found a lot of information on Aspergers, but not a lot on ODD.

Does anyone have any info on this ? Apparently its tied into another disorder called CD? (Is this right?)

Anyway, we are going to the doctors next week and are going from there.

 

[janette]

It is classified as a conduct disorder, I've read some about it a long time ago when my DD was having some problems. Thankfully she doesn't fall under that spectrum.

It is much different than Aspergers since it is behavioral more than social. Or at least that is my interpretation.

 

[WDWAurora]

Here's info straight from the diagnostic manual:

Recurrent pattern of negativistic, defiant, disobedient, and hostile behavior toward authority figures that persists for at least 6 months. In males, the disorder has been shown to be more prevalent among those who, in the preschool years, have problematic temperments (I would guess Asperger's could fit in there). This is more prevalent in males than females before puberty. It's usually evident before age 8 and usually not later than early adolescence. Onset is typically gradual. It often precedes Conduct disorder, but does not always lead to it.

Diagnostic Criteria for Oppositional Defiant Disorder:

A. A pattern of negativistic, hostile, and defiant behavior lasting at least 6 mos, during which four (or more) of the following are present:
1. often loses temper
2. often argues with adults
3. often actively defies or refuses to comply with adults' requests or rules
4. often deliberately annoys people
5. often blames others for his or her mistakes or misbehavior
6. is often touchy or easily annoyed by others
7. is often angry and resentful
8. is often spiteful or vindictive

Keep in mind that the psychologist will have a better idea as to whether or not your child's behaviors are sufficient enough to warrant diagnosis. While these are what the diagnostic manual says, many of them could be applied to just about any child, it just depends on the quantity and extreme nature of these behaviors. I hope that helps and I wish you all the best...I'm sure your psychologist will be able to help you a lot as soon as a proper diagnosis is made.

 

[LMC]

My neice is adhd/odd/with cd and impulsive tendencies. In my neices' case w/ her odd, she has to be in control. (Or at least think she has to be/suppose to be). Her odd is most obvious when she is w/ her mother. I don't have many problems w/ her when I keep her but I know she has given her mother fits. Maybe the odd comes out most often w/ the primary care giver? I'm not a shrink but this is what i've seen w/ my neice. You need to get a good pediatric psychiatrist and neurodevelopmental psych may be best. If a child has odd they need to be in regular therapy/counseling!

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

Our next door neighbors' son was diagnosed with ODD. He would do things without considering the consequences.

He drove a car onto the golf course and did $3000 worth of damage. The country club made him work with course maintenance until he paid off his debt. He spray painted profanities about the principal on the HS football field. He shot BBs through our window and denied it.

He is in college now at Ohio State. I don't know what meds. helped him overcome his disability. He seems to be doing quite well now.

I hope that you can get your child properly diagnosed and find the right treatment.

Lori

 

[WDWAurora]

Originally posted by janette
It is classified as a conduct disorder, I've read some about it a long time ago when my DD was having some problems. Thankfully she doesn't fall under that spectrum.

It is much different than Aspergers since it is behavioral more than social. Or at least that is my interpretation.

Conduct disorder is seperate from ODD...Although ODD does lead to Conduct Disorder in a number of cases. You can also have the two together, but they are not one and the same. Asperger's is a form of Autism which is something different altogether.

 

[hentob]

Take a look at ConductDisorders.com

Good luck!

 

[dg39]

My dd was diagnosed with ODD when she was in the 8th grade. It was like living in pure hell for everyone of us. She had all the symptons that are on the above post and living with her like that was nothing less then the worst nightmare I could ever have. We went to dr. after dr. until we found one that took no bulls**t from her. They are very manipulative and will do anything and everything to get there way. Believe me, if your not sure your child has it, he probably doesn't. All the symptons are very clear. If they don't get there way, watch out. They are in fear of absolutely no one or anything. We had years of this hell with this. She is now 19 and is in college. She has been off meds for a while and is much, much better with her rages. I wish you all the luck in the world if your child has ODD. No one knows how it is until they live with someone who has this.

 

[chrissyk]

Someone told me that this was what my SIL was diagnosed with as a child (along with ADHD). She was treated unsucccessfully, and now she is a frightening adult. I've seen her rage at my MIL so viciously that I wasn't sure if I should call the police All the while, my MIL was trying to placate her! This is a tough disorder, and it needs to be treated aggressively IMHO. My in-laws are paying the price for allowing SIL to stop treatment. She still has all of her same problems from childhood, but they are magnified now. Also, they have lost out of their lives my DH over this Living with her was pure h@ll according to my husband

Not to hijack, but does anyone know if ODD has genetic components that can be passed on?

 

[WDWAurora]

Again from the diagnostic manual:

ODD appears to be more common in families in which at least one parent has a history of a Mood Disorder, ODD, CD, ADHD, Antisocial Personality Disorder, or a Substance Related Disorder. Some studies suggest that mothers with a Depressie Disorder are more likely to have children with oppositional behavior, but it is unclear to what extent maternal depression results from or causes oppositional behavior in children. ODD is more common in families where there is serious marital *******.

I didn't type this at first because I don't want the OP to blame herself, IF any of these are the case, and I have no idea if they are...Now I'll just add a disclaimer: This does not account for all cases of ODD. There are plenty that show up with none of these precursors. It's noone's fault!

 

[dg39]

While WDWAurora is right with her writings, this is a small part of my story. No one in either mine or dh family has any type of disorder. Whether it be depression, anxiety or anything of such. We raised all our 3 childred the same way. When one got something, the other 2 got something also. We took them all to the same places, you all get what I mean. Equal treatment, etc..
My middle dd always had a problem with something. At first we thought she was just spoiled and wanted everything her way. When we didn't give in to her demands, she flew off the bend. To the extreme. It wasn't only at home. It was outside with her friends and eventually into school. I've been up to school for her so many times, too many to even count. I apologized, begged and pleaded with them that her outbursts will not happen again. It got to the point that she started threatening her classmates and most of the kids were deeply afraid of her. The 1st. dr. thought it might be the start of her body changing for her period. Well it wasn't. After battling back and forth to no end, dr. after dr. Therapist after therapist. Hundreds & hundreds of dollars, we found a dr. who finally diagnosed her. I became the target of her outrage and she threatened me everyday. When she was not in her "mood", she was the nicest girl you'd want to meet. BUT, beware, if she wasn't. It got to the point that I was afraid of my own dd. The dr. put her in the hospital for 8 days. I had peace for that week. I knew where she was and we were able to have a good nights sleep. The dr. put her on meds. It was trial and error. Finally found a group of meds that seemed to work more then the others. She eventually straigtened out to a degree. Still if things don't go her way, she gets mad and reacts, but, much,much less then before. She's 19 now, in college, not living at home, and working. She is living with someone and we don't like the idea, but her age/law says we have no say in that. I can say that it did get sooooo much better, but I'll never forget what our family went through. I can write a book about this as I kind of dedicated my life on this subject. I found that many,many drs. don't know much at all about ODD. You have to keep looking for one that knows and this is the only way, you'll be able to keep up with this disorder. It can wreck your family's lives if you let it.

 

[RNMOM]

My 17yr old DS#2 has this and ADD. It has been...less than fun most of his life. We had a lot of trouble at his original grade school and changed to the one that used to have the kids with behavior problems. All the teachers/ principal were well used to difficult kids. He did very well there. None of them were willing to let him have control hence he did not act out.

It has been a struggle all along in school to get teachers that aren't easily disrupted by him. I tell them all to use humor with him. It diffuses him and takes the attention off them. Some do okay and others seem they don't feel they should have to work that hard and don't. He is on an IEP. He is on meds and they have been changed a few times. We have good times and bad ones. He is very loving and fun kid but man he has been a lot of work.

 

[chrissyk]

dg39, your DD sounds a lot like the way my DH describes my SIL. Good for you for getting her help and staying on top of things. That alone probably helped your DD a lot. I think that my in-laws really tried to get SIL help, but eventually SIL's willfulness, rages, drug use, etc. got the better of them and they gave up.

We no longer have contact with DH's family because of this girl's behavior. They've chosen to accept her behavior, and to insist that we do as well. DH and I refuse to accept her abuse. To me, it looks like my in-laws have actually turned their backs on their daughter by ignoring the issue and not ever really letting her hit bottom. They've even laughed with her about her drug use right in front of us I try to have compassion for them as parents and to understand that this girl didn't come with a parenting manual. Still, though, I often wonder why my in-laws stopped trying to get her help.

I have another question. Does the ODD diagnosis graduate to something else when the person becomes an adult? SIL seems to fit the characteristics of "Borderline Personality Disorder" as an adult. She still has the ODD rages, blames others for her issues, etc., though.

 

[WDWAurora]

If it graduates, it usually graduates to conduct disorder. It does not seem to be linked to borderline, but that's not to say she didn't develop it. Tough call without proper testing. I'm just going from the literature since I don't know her, so that's not really too accurate...But Borderline is not statistically linked.