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Oppositional defiant disorder

Definition:
Oppositional defiant disorder is a pattern of disobedient, hostile, and defiant behavior towards authority figures. The pattern must persist for at least six months and must go beyond the bounds of normal childhood misbehavior.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

This disorder is more prevalent in boys than girls. Some studies have found that as much as 20% of the school age population are affected, but most experts believe this figure is over-inflated due to changing cultural definitions of normal childhood behavior and other possible racial, cultural, and gender biases.

The onset typically begins by age 8. The cause of this disorder is unknown, and may be due to a combination of biology and parenting or environmental factors.



Review Date: 5/24/2002
Reviewed By: Marylinn Markarian, M.D., Associate Medical Director, FEGS Continuing Day Program, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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