Oppositional Defiant Disorder Treatment
And Comorbidity With ADHD

Oppositional Defiant Disorder is defined as a pattern of negativistic (skepticism), uncooperative, defiant, disobedient, and hostile behavior toward authority figures that continues for a minimum of six months. Oppositional Defiant Disorder's symptoms defining behavioral traits are:

Oppositional Defiant Disorder has a high incidence of comorbid (coupled with other diseases) with behavior disorders such as: Anxiety Disorders, Depressive Disorders, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Learning Disabilities, Conduct Disorders, Eating Disorders, Autism, and Schizophrenia. Symptoms such as, hyperactivity, impulsivity, distractibility, and being inattentive overlap in both Conduct Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Oppositional Defiant Disorder treatment starts with a complete diagnosis. Since Oppositional Defiant Disorder can occur in conjunction with Anxiety Disorders, Depressive Disorders, etc… they may need to seek counseling (family, group, and individual), need educational assistance, need specific medications (i.e. ADHD Medications/Tests), and so forth. Oppositional Defiant Disorder treatments must include the parents. Parent management training (PMT) is important because it is said that Oppositional Defiant Disorder can be developed by family instability, financial stress, mental illness in the parents, overly harsh punishments, inconsistent parenting, divorce, and constantly relocating (moving). Parents can unknowingly contribute to the disruptive behaviors by reacting to them negatively. PMT teaches parents to positively reinforce altruistic social behavior and also teaches them how to effectively punish for misbehavior, without being overly negative and harsh. This Oppositional Defiant Disorder treatment not only helps the parent and child initially, but when parents continued using the PMT techniques there can be continued improvements for years to come.

There's often nothing more frustrating than seeing a child or being an adolescent who experiences Behavioral Disorders, Learning Disabilities, and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. These individuals may often be out of control, over-stimulated, under-stimulated, or experience uncontrolled stimulation patterns throughout their sensorium, exhibiting behavioral patterns which are difficult to explain and which often disrupt an entire household.

Millions of people are being placed on activity modifying drugs for these disorders and many of these drugs can have dangerous side effects.