Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) is characterized by a pattern of uncooperative, defiant, and hostile behavior toward authority figures. Adolescents with ODD regularly lose their temper, argue with adults, actively defy adult rules, refuse adult requests, and deliberately annoy others.
The programs of The Pinnacle Schools treat the teen with ODD by using cognitive therapy modification in the group process model, clear and concise boundaries, goal setting and therapeutic workshops. Teens admitted to the program often feel their behaviors are normal and acceptable, and that everyone else is out of line. They typically blame others for their mistakes. They may appear touchy, angry, resentful, spiteful, or vindictive, even to their peers.
Although aggressive behavior tends to be limited, some adolescents engage in mild physical aggression, and their language tends to be more aggressive and obscene than the average teenager.
Identifying The Signs. It's not always easy to distinguish ODD from normal, age appropriate oppositional behavior. Symptoms of the disorder tend to mirror, in exaggerated form, problems common to most families with teenagers. The professional staff at ERTP are trained to assess, diagnose and treat Oppositional Defiant Disorder. Through our program, teens learn to identify the behavior that is unacceptable, accept responsibility for it, and determine the core issue that drives the behavior. Once the core issue is uncovered, residents learn to use tools to identify the old feelings, realize the behavior that results from those feelings, and replace them with new, positive behaviors.
In many cases, oppositional disorders coexist with AD/HD. Symptoms of ODD sometime occur as part of a major depressive disorder, obsessive‑compulsive disorder, or an attack of mania. In some teenagers, ODD may represent a remnant of separation anxiety disorder, in which oppositional defiance reflects a reaction to feelings of ambivalence and anxiety that arise from the developmental move toward independence.
There also seems to be a correlation between ODD in a teen and a history of disruptive behavior disorders, substance abuse, or other emotional disorders in family members. ERTP requires extensive background information from parents before admitting their child into the program.
Source: American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
