Risk Factors for Oppositional Deficient Disorder

There are several possible risk factors that can lead to ODD. They are:
•    Having a parent who has a substance abuse or mood disorder
•    Deficient parental involvement in child’s life
•    Growing up in an environment where parents’ relationship is estranged.
•    Having parents who have suffered from ODD, conduct problems or ADHD
•    Exposure to violence.
•    Instability in family life such as experiencing parents divorce, frequent moving or changing schools etc.

Complications of Oppositional Deficient Disorder

 A child suffering from ODD may develop more serious problems such as severe delinquency, conduct disorder or substance abuse.

Exams and Tests

To diagnose ODD, the child with ODD symptoms may be subjected to various examinations and tests conducted by a psychiatrist or psychologist. For children and juveniles, the following conditions may cause similar behavior patterns as Oppositional Deficient Disorder – anxiety disorders, bipolar disease, Depression, Learning Disorder, Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, substance abuse disorder. All of these should be considered as possibilities while evaluating the child. One of the conditions may exist along with ODD.