Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)

Also called Oppositional defiant disorder. That is the name used in diagnostic manuals and on most official paperwork.

A diagnosis given when a child is often angry and defiant with adults, over a long time. It describes what the child does, not why they do it.

Applies across the UK

ODD is a diagnosis used when a child's anger and defiance towards adults go well beyond what is usual for their age, over a long time. It is a real diagnosis, and for some children it is the accurate one. It is also a description that stops at the surface: the same behaviour can come from ADHD ADHD ADHD is a difference in the way a child's brain works. It affects how they pay attention, how much energy they have, and how easily they act on impulse. Read the full definition of ADHD , autism Autism Autism is a difference in how the brain develops. It shapes how an autistic child sees and experiences the world, how they communicate, and how they respond to things like noise, light and touch. Read the full definition of Autism , trauma, or a language difficulty that has not been spotted, and ODD occurs very often alongside ADHD. If ODD has been suggested for your child, it is reasonable to ask what has been considered and ruled out first, and to say clearly what you think sits underneath the behaviour. Being offered a parenting course is common here; taking it does not mean the underlying question about your child has been answered.

If you work with children

Where ODD appears in a pupil's record, check whether a neurodevelopmental assessment happened before or after the label was given. Families are commonly routed to parenting programmes instead of assessment, and an ODD label can close that door; NICE CG158 covers the conduct disorder pathway this sits in.

Where this comes from

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