Oppositional defiant disorder

What it is

Oppositional defiant disorder is a pattern of negativistic, hostile and defiant behavior toward figures of authority lasting at least 6 months. Held against conduct disorder it is mostly about attitude and disobedience: ODD opposes authority but does not harm seriously, while CD means criminal behaviors that violate the rights of others and social rules. All conduct disorder behaviors are illegal or very harmful.

How it presents

A described example is a girl of 10 brought to the office by her parents on the recommendation of the school counselor. For at least the past year, both at home and at school, she often loses her temper, is easily annoyed and is very touchy. She is sullen and angry, arguing frequently with her parents and teachers. At school she irritates and annoys classmates, then blames them when they react negatively toward her. She also disrupts the classroom by refusing to comply with classroom rules and expectations or with the teacher's authority. Set against the criteria, that pattern is toward her parents, her teachers and the teacher's authority, it has gone on for at least the past year, and nothing in it is illegal or very harmful. That is negativistic, hostile and defiant behavior toward figures of authority lasting at least 6 months, and it is not the criminal behavior that violates the rights of others and social rules.

The two features to hold from it are that the pattern shows itself toward authority, and that it does not cross into harm.