Oppositional Defiance Disorder: The Effects on Boys and Girls

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It is no wonder that children, with this kind of disability might carry it with them into adulthood and making poor decisions, like becoming addicted to drugs or alcohol. But if these children have significant help and support from family, teachers and doctors, can they avoid those types of decisions. It will not be an easy task to find a way to understand why or how the child may be feeling and acting out the way they do but parent support and involvement is necessary. It is important to understand that any type of treatment should never be one sided, but it must be a collaborative and team effort with the focus being on how the child feels and would like to change. In an article by Antúnez, de La Osa, Granero, and Ezpeleta, Parental Psychopathology levels as a Moderator of Treatment and Oppositional Defiant Disorder Symptoms in Preschools, they focus on the negative paternal relationships that can further progress the symptoms of children with ODD. They suggested that for parents raising a child with ODD can be challenging and can cause some strain on both parents and putting that stress on the child. But it becomes more stressful on the father when he must discipline the child’s defiant behavior, and could affect them negatively the way they parent their children. It is important for any child especially boys to have a father be there for them and understand them even if they are being difficult. There needs to be intervention programs not only for the children with ODD but parents of the child to understand that there are ways to assist their child with the defiant and difficult outbursts. Family therapy can result in positive communication within the family and bring everyone on the same page. This type of therapy is very useful for children, who are missing that connection with their parents. There should more services for fathers to help them with their own difficulties and teach them to be there more for their child.

Oppositional Defiant Disorder may never be outgrown for most individuals by adulthood. But there are many different treatment options for children at the critical stages of their life that could help decrease the behaviors/symptoms of ODD. Research has concluded that boys tend have a more difficult time controlling their behaviors and expressing themselves, especially if their fathers are also having a difficult time with their behaviors. This topic of Oppositional Defiant Disorder is important to understand and researched more about the causes for it and why it is categorized with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder. It’s important to not just simply assume that any child with a non-visible disability is being a problem, but to get on their level and figure out how to assist them. Any child can be assisted and receive the necessary tools to reach their untapped potential.

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Reference:

Demmer, D. H., Hooley, M., Sheen, J., McGillivary, J. A., & Lum, J. A. (2016, June 10). Sex Differences in the Prevalence of Oppositional Disorder During Middle

Childhood: Meta-Analysis.

Déry, M., Lapalme, M., Jagiellowicz, J., Poirier, M., Temcheff, C., & Toupin, J. (2016, May 21). Predicting Depression and Anxiety from Oppositional Defiant Disorder Symptoms in Elementary School-Age Girls and Boys with Conduct Problem.

El Ouardani, C. N. (2016, October 19). Innocent or Intentional?: Interpreting Oppositional Defiant Disorder in a Preschool Mental Health Clinic.

Jahangard, L., Akbarian, S., Ahmaddpanah, M., Keshavarzi, A., Bajoghill, H., Bahmani, D. S., . . . Brand, S. (2016, December 10). Children with ADHD and symptoms of oppositional defiant disorder improved in behavior when treated with methylphenidate and adjuvant risperidone, though weight gain was also observed – Results from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Antúnez, Zayra, Nuria De La Osa, Roser Granero, and Lourdes Ezpeleta. "Parental Psychopathology Levels as a Moderator of Temperament and Oppositional Defiant Disorder Symptoms in Preschoolers." N.p., 3 June 2016. Web. 24 Apr. 2017.

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