Conduct Disorder and Oppositional Defiant Disorder

Children and youth with conduct disorder and Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) have trouble obeying rules and complying with authority. Both conduct disorder and ODD can have serious negative impacts on functioning in school, with peers, and at home, but conduct disorder is more severe.

Signs of ODD include^xxvii:

Constant defiance, disobedience, and hostility toward parents, teachers, and other authority figures
Constant fighting and arguing
Easily being annoyed
Being annoying, or mean to other people on purpose
Blaming other people for their own mistakes
Being repeatedly angry on resentful in a way that isn’t appropriate for their age

Signs of conduct disorder include^xxviii:

Aggressive behavior that threatens or hurts people or animals, like bullying, starting fights, or being physically cruel to animals
Deliberate destruction of property, which can include fire setting
Frequently lying out of self interest
Theft of items of significant value
Serious rule violations, like running way before the age of 13 or running away repeatedly for extended periods of time

Determining whether a child has conduct disorder or ODD can be difficult, because typical childhood behavior can be mistaken as signs of these disorders. Other disorders such as substance abuse or ADHD can also affect behavior in a way that can resemble ODD or conduct disorder. Only a qualified mental health provider can diagnose ODD or conduct disorder.

If you think your child might have ODD or conduct disorder talk to a health care provider like a nurse or doctor, the counselor at your child’s school, or a mental health professional.

This web site describes some of the common mental health problems that affect teens, including:

Last revised: March 27, 2009