Oppositional Defiant Behavior in Teens

Oppositional defiant disorder is different from the common defiance that is normal during the teen years. Teens with oppositional defiant disorder were often difficult from infancy, challenging during the grade school years and become angry and defiant during their teen years. A combination of factors can lead to oppositional defiant disorder, and teens who suffer this condition often have other associated conditions that make managing their behavior a challenge.

  1. Causes

    • Some children are naturally more inclined to develop oppositional defiant disorder than others. Delays in development that make it challenging for the teen to process her emotions can also lead to this condition. Environmental factors, such as lack of supervision, abuse, inconsistent discipline and neglect can trigger the development of oppositional defiant disorder as well. Chemical imbalances in the brain can also make teens more susceptible to this disorder. Typically it is a combination of factors, rather than a single cause, that leads to this condition.

    Symptoms

    • To determine if your teen has oppositional defiant disorder, rather than run of the mill teen rebellion, consider how long and how disruptive the behavior is. Negative, disobedient or defiant behavior that is ongoing for at least six months and is regularly disruptive to either home or school life is a good indication that your child may suffer from this disorder. Another sign of oppositional defiant disorder is hostility toward authority figures. Also, teens with this disorder very rarely see a problem with themselves; rather, they feel that the authority figure is being unreasonable. Teens with this disorder are frequently also diagnosed with anxiety, depression or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

    Treatment

    • Treatment for oppositional defiant disorder is multi-faceted. Therapy, for the teen as well as other family members, is necessary to improve relationships and repair past damage. All members of the family will learn how to better interact with each other. Medication is sometimes necessary to treat underlying mental health issues.

    Challenges

    • Oppositional defiant disorder is particularly challenging to treat because the teen often becomes so unlikable in his behavior to teachers or parents that their relationships are fractured. Teens with this disorder frequently blame others for problems and refuse to accept responsibility, while at the same time being purposely disobedient. The parent or teacher becomes accustomed to this behavior, learns to expect the worst from the child and is often quick to become angry or place blame on the teen for no reason. This, in turn, feeds the teens feelings of unjust treatment. It is important to get family members and educational staff on board early in the treatment plan so they can manage their own negative feelings and help, rather than hinder, the treatment process.

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