Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) and Conduct Disorder (CD) are among the most commonly diagnosed behavioral health disorders prevalent in children. Children with the oppositional defiant disorder are at risk for eventually developing other problems besides conduct disorder, including anxiety and depressive disorders (Association, 2013). The symptoms of both these conditions differ in terms of their morosity and discernment. Before a social health worker can consider diagnosing either ODD or CD, several factors that relate to the two behavioral conditions. Evaluation of these disorders in children incorporates multiple assessment methods relying on several informants concerning the nature of the children’s strengths and weaknesses. To accomplish this, a social worker should conduct surveys of child adaptive behaviors and parent self-report measures of psychiatric conditions.
Recognizing Oppositional Defiant Disorder in a Patient
Diagnosis does not only help to determine the presence or absence of health disorders, but also the different kinds and extent of affliction present in the patient. Oppositional defiant disorder is diagnosed and identified through the recognition of several behaviors occurring in a subject (Burke & Romano-Verthelyi, 2018). The symptoms may include antipathetical behavior that is never ceasing, noncompliance, dogging petulance, and anger. Although ODD has early beginnings in childhood, it usually persists into adulthood. It also can result in difficulties with social relationships and performance. Oppositional defiant disorder, unlike conduct disorder, carries a high risk for the co-existence or development of other psychiatric disorders such as depression.
Recognizing Conduct Disorder in a Patient
Another behavioral diagnosis common among children and adolescents is CD extremely vitiating. It ofttimes steers towards poor physical and mental health consequences in adulthood (Freitag et al., 2018). Conduct disorder has been established to affect more male subjects than females, and the resulting research has used more male subjects than females, although the number has altered over the past few decades (Freitag et al., 2018). Common symptoms of these disorders include anger, irritable moods, aggression, argumentative and defiant behaviors. There may also be vindictiveness that can last longer than six months and causes significant problems at home or school. Social workers should consider some of these symptoms when diagnosing a child or adolescent with behavioral disorders.
The Presentation of Anger in Both Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Conduct Disorder
Although both ODD and CD have several different factors that present as symptoms, anger is a common symptom of both disorders. Blair (2018) states anger is a societal emotion that tones the risk of aggression in an individual. In his studies, Blair also noted that anger is an emotional reaction to threat, frustration, or social provocation (2018). A social worker should recognize the presence of different emotions, including anger, when interacting with both children and adolescents.
A Biblical View of Anger
Anger, just like any other emotive display, is a communicative projection designed to impart feelings and information. The Bible states, “Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly” (Proverbs 14:29, ESV). Anger is therefore seen in both biblical and societal terms, as a critical behavioral emotion. Anger can adversely affect our judgment, behavior, and mannerisms negatively. Thus, social workers should always strive to diagnose and recognize the presence of anger in patients. If the reasons for the emotional display of anger are not deliberated, it may result in a child or adolescent being diagnosed with non-existent deviant behavior.
References
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-5. American Psychiatric Association Publishing.
Blair, R. (2018). Traits of empathy and anger: Implications for psychopathy and other disorders associated with aggression. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 373 (1744), 20170155. Web.
Burke, J. D., & Romano-Verthelyi, A. M. (2018). Oppositional defiant disorder. Developmental Pathways to Disruptive, Impulse-Control and Conduct Disorders, 21–52. Web.
Freitag, C. M., Konrad, K., Stadler, C., de Brito, S. A., Popma, A., Herpertz, S. C., Herpertz-Dahlmann, B., Neumann, I., Kieser, M., Chiocchetti, A. G., Schwenck, C., & Fairchild, G. (2018). Conduct disorder in adolescent females: current state of research and study design of the FemNAT-CD consortium. European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 27(9), 1077–1093. Web.
Proverbs 14 ESV. (2022). Web.