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Causes
By Mayo Clinic staffThere's no clear cause underpinning oppositional defiant disorder. Contributing causes are likely a combination of inherited and environmental factors, including:
- A child's natural disposition
- Limitations or developmental delays in a child's ability to process thoughts and feelings
- Lack of supervision
- Inconsistent or harsh discipline
- Abuse or neglect
- An imbalance of certain brain chemicals, such as serotonin
References
- Oppositional defiant disorder. In: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR. 4th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association; 2000. http://www.psychiatryonline.com. Accessed Sept. 28, 2009.
- Children with oppositional defiant disorder. American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. http://aacap.org/page.ww?name=Children+with+Oppositional+Defiant+Disorder§ion=Facts+for+Families. Accessed Sept. 28, 2009.
- Ursano AM, et al. Disorders usually first diagnosed in infancy, childhood, or adolescence. In: Hales RE, et al., eds. The American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Psychiatry. 5th ed. Arlington, Va.: American Psychiatric Association; 2008. http://www.psychiatryonline.com. Accessed Sept. 28, 2009.
- Hamilton SS. Oppositional defiant disorder. American Family Physician. 2008;78:861.
- Practice parameter for the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with oppositional defiant disorder. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 2007;46:126.
- Parent-child interaction therapy with at-risk families. Child Welfare Information Gateway. http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/f_interactbulletin/f_interactbulletin.pdf. Accessed Oct. 2, 2009.
- Wall CA (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Oct. 2, 2009.
