[Self-Test] Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) in Children

Oppositional Defiant Disorder in Children: ODD Test

Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is a behavioral and conduct disorder that affects as many as 16 percent of children in the general population; that number is even higher for patients with ADHD.

ODD includes regular temper tantrums, excessive arguments with adults, and uncooperative, deliberately annoying actions. ODD can be an indicator of a mood, substance, or personality disorder and, if diagnosed, warrants further investigation.

The symptoms of ODD may look different in girls and boys, for whom the condition is more common. Boys with ODD tend to be more physically aggressive and have explosive anger while girls often lie, refuse to cooperate, and express symptoms in other indirect ways. ODD is usually diagnosed in childhood; some children outgrow the condition by age eight or nine. Early intervention and treatment for ODD are the best way to help correct oppositional behavior before it progresses into conduct disorder or a more serious mental health concern.

When you take this ODD self-test, think about your child’s behavior over the last six months or longer, behaviors that are excessive compared to what is usual for your child's age and that significantly impair the child's normal daily activities. You may want to take the results to a mental health professional for clinical evaluation and diagnosis of ODD.

This self-test for ODD was designed from symptom criteria in the American Psychiatric Association DSM 5, 2013. It is not a diagnostic tool but is designed to determine whether your child shows symptoms similar to those of oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), symptoms that might warrant a clinical evaluation by a mental health professional. This screener is for personal use only.