Jacqueline 
Corcoran, Ph.D. 
From: Corcoran, J., & 
Walsh, J. (2012 2nd 
ed.). Mental Health 
in Social Work: A 
Casebook on 
Diagnosis and 
Strengths-Based 
Assessment. 
Boston: Allyn & 
Bacon. 
Oppositional Defiant Disorder 
(ODD) and Conduct Disorder 
(CD)
Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) and 
Conduct Disorder (CD) 
Classified as Disruptive, Impulse- 
Control, and Conduct Disorders 
Rationale for discussing together: 
 both feature anger, defiance, 
rebellion, lying, and school 
problems 
 ODD is often a developmental 
antecedent to CD (40% of those 
with ODD go on to CD)
Differences between 
• ODD characterized by a pattern of 
angry/irritable mood, 
argumentative/defiant behavior and/or 
vindictiveness for at least 6 mos but 
don’t seriously violate basic rights of 
others 
• CD includes aggression toward 
people or animals, destruction 
of property, or a pattern of theft 
or deceit over 1 year
Prevalence and Co-Morbidity 
ODD: lifetime prevalence rate of 10.2% 
CD: 1-10% 
More common in boys 
Comorbodity 
High 
Substance use disorders, 
ADHD, mood disorders
Assessment Guidelines 
 Because transient oppositional behavior is common in preschool 
children and adolescents, caution should be exercised in diagnosing 
ODD during these developmental periods. 
 Oppositional behaviors in children and adolescents should be 
distinguished from the disruptive behavior resulting from inattention 
and impulsivity that is associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity 
disorder 
 should not be made when the symptomatic behavior is protective for 
a child living in an impoverished, high-crime community or war zone 
 ODD should be distinguished from a failure to follow directions that is 
the result of impaired language comprehension due to hearing loss or a 
learning disability. 
 In cases in which both CD and ODD are present, only CD should be 
diagnosed. 
 When ODD or CD is diagnosed, a child and family relational problem 
should not be included because the ODD or CD diagnosis includes 
conflict. 
 A less severe diagnosis should be considered initially—either an 
adjustment disorder with disturbance of conduct in response to an 
identifiable stressor or the V-code for “child or adolescent antisocial 
behavior.” 
 Conduct disorder should be diagnosed in adults older than 18 only if 
the criteria for antisocial personality disorder are not met.
Risk and Protective Factors for Onset 
Genetics may account for 50% or more of the variance in conduct 
disorder 
Interaction of genes and environment (child maltreatment, living in urban 
area)
Risk and Protective Factors for Course 
2% of youth with no childhood 
risk showed persistencein 
adolescence vs. 71% of youth 
who had risk influences in 5 
different areas 
Childhood onset – more severe 
Male – ODD to CD
TREATMENT – PARENT TRAINING 
Specifying goals for behavioral 
change 
Tracking target behaviors 
Positively reinforcing pro-social 
conduct through the use of 
attention, praise, and point 
systems 
Employing alternative discipline 
methods, such as withdrawal of 
attention, time out from 
reinforcement, imposition of costs 
on inappropriate behavior, and 
removal of privileges
Parent Training Programs 
The Parent Management Training Oregon Model (ages 3–12) (Patterson 
& Gullion, 1968) 
Helping the Noncompliant Child (ages 3–8) (Forehand & McMahon, 1981) 
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (ages 2-7) (Brinkmeyer & Eyberg, 2003) 
The Incredible Years (ages 2–8) (Webster-Stratton, 2001) 
the Positive Parenting Program (called Triple P) (preschool through 
adolescence)
ADOLESCENTS – MULTI-DIMENSIONAL 
MODELS 
Multi-Systemic Therapy 
Functional family therapy integrates systems, cognitive, and behavioral 
theories 
Treatment foster care
Cognitive-Behavioral 
anger management, 
assertiveness training, 
cognitive restructuring, 
relaxation, social 
problem solving or 
social skills 
development
Medication 
the stimulants, selective 
norepinephrine reuptake 
inhibitors, antipsychotics, 
mood stabilizers

Odd and cd 9 13

  • 1.
    Jacqueline Corcoran, Ph.D. From: Corcoran, J., & Walsh, J. (2012 2nd ed.). Mental Health in Social Work: A Casebook on Diagnosis and Strengths-Based Assessment. Boston: Allyn & Bacon. Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) and Conduct Disorder (CD)
  • 2.
    Oppositional Defiant Disorder(ODD) and Conduct Disorder (CD) Classified as Disruptive, Impulse- Control, and Conduct Disorders Rationale for discussing together:  both feature anger, defiance, rebellion, lying, and school problems  ODD is often a developmental antecedent to CD (40% of those with ODD go on to CD)
  • 3.
    Differences between •ODD characterized by a pattern of angry/irritable mood, argumentative/defiant behavior and/or vindictiveness for at least 6 mos but don’t seriously violate basic rights of others • CD includes aggression toward people or animals, destruction of property, or a pattern of theft or deceit over 1 year
  • 4.
    Prevalence and Co-Morbidity ODD: lifetime prevalence rate of 10.2% CD: 1-10% More common in boys Comorbodity High Substance use disorders, ADHD, mood disorders
  • 5.
    Assessment Guidelines Because transient oppositional behavior is common in preschool children and adolescents, caution should be exercised in diagnosing ODD during these developmental periods.  Oppositional behaviors in children and adolescents should be distinguished from the disruptive behavior resulting from inattention and impulsivity that is associated with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder  should not be made when the symptomatic behavior is protective for a child living in an impoverished, high-crime community or war zone  ODD should be distinguished from a failure to follow directions that is the result of impaired language comprehension due to hearing loss or a learning disability.  In cases in which both CD and ODD are present, only CD should be diagnosed.  When ODD or CD is diagnosed, a child and family relational problem should not be included because the ODD or CD diagnosis includes conflict.  A less severe diagnosis should be considered initially—either an adjustment disorder with disturbance of conduct in response to an identifiable stressor or the V-code for “child or adolescent antisocial behavior.”  Conduct disorder should be diagnosed in adults older than 18 only if the criteria for antisocial personality disorder are not met.
  • 6.
    Risk and ProtectiveFactors for Onset Genetics may account for 50% or more of the variance in conduct disorder Interaction of genes and environment (child maltreatment, living in urban area)
  • 7.
    Risk and ProtectiveFactors for Course 2% of youth with no childhood risk showed persistencein adolescence vs. 71% of youth who had risk influences in 5 different areas Childhood onset – more severe Male – ODD to CD
  • 8.
    TREATMENT – PARENTTRAINING Specifying goals for behavioral change Tracking target behaviors Positively reinforcing pro-social conduct through the use of attention, praise, and point systems Employing alternative discipline methods, such as withdrawal of attention, time out from reinforcement, imposition of costs on inappropriate behavior, and removal of privileges
  • 9.
    Parent Training Programs The Parent Management Training Oregon Model (ages 3–12) (Patterson & Gullion, 1968) Helping the Noncompliant Child (ages 3–8) (Forehand & McMahon, 1981) Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (ages 2-7) (Brinkmeyer & Eyberg, 2003) The Incredible Years (ages 2–8) (Webster-Stratton, 2001) the Positive Parenting Program (called Triple P) (preschool through adolescence)
  • 10.
    ADOLESCENTS – MULTI-DIMENSIONAL MODELS Multi-Systemic Therapy Functional family therapy integrates systems, cognitive, and behavioral theories Treatment foster care
  • 11.
    Cognitive-Behavioral anger management, assertiveness training, cognitive restructuring, relaxation, social problem solving or social skills development
  • 12.
    Medication the stimulants,selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers