To be be diagnosed with ODD, a child’s behaviour should occur at least once per week for at least 6 months, other than Criteria 8 (Vindictiveness) which only needs to be present twice in a six-month period. Furthermore, the persistence and frequency of the symptoms discussed above should exceed what is normal for an individual’s age, gender, and culture. Additionally, to be diagnosed with ODD an individual must exhibit at least four of the above eight symptoms of ODD. If symptoms are confined to just one setting (most commonly the home), the condition is considered mild in severity. If symptoms are consistently observed in two settings, such as home and school, the condition is considered moderately severe. If symptoms are observed in three or more settings, such as school, home, and during the child’s extra-curricular activities, then the condition is considered to be severe. However, clearly the level of severity of a child’s ODD is also influenced by the amount of symptoms they exhibit, not just how many settings these symptoms are exhibited in.
