Oppositional Defiant Disorder Symptoms & Common Signs

Symptoms and Common Signs of ODD

Linked below are the full list of Oppositional Defiant Disorder Symptoms recognised by the latest edition of the official DSM. For each symptom, I have listed several examples of how a child is likely to show these symptoms, at school, at home, and elsewhere. Each Odd Disorder Symptoms is broken down into three categories. Please note that the examples for each symptom have been constructed under the professional supervision of Trevor Givoni, Clinical Psychologist (Psychology Board of Australia Registration Number PSY0001120376.)

Categories of ODD

Angry/Irritable Mood

Often loses temper
Is often touchy or easily annoyed
Is often angry and resentful

Emotional teen girl daughter fighting with mother at home, sitting in front of each other on sofa

Argumentative/ Defiant Behaviour

Often argues with authority figures or with adults.
Often actively defies or refuses to comply with requests from authority figures or with rules.
Often deliberately annoys others.
Often blames others for his or her mistakes or misbehaviour.

Vindictiveness

Has been spiteful or vindictive at least twice within the past 6 months.