What Is Oppositional Defiant Disorder?

Antisocial Personality Disorder (APD) is specifically a pervasive pattern of disregarding and violating the rights of others. Diagnostic criteria for this disorder state that this pattern must include at least three of the following specific signs and symptoms: • A lack of feeling guilty about wrong-doing • Disregard for personal safety or the safety of others • Failure to think or plan ahead • Lack of conforming to laws, as evidenced by repeatedly committing crimes • Persistent lack of taking responsibility, such as failing to establish a pattern of good work habits or keeping financial obligations • Repeated deceitfulness in relationships with others, such as lying, using false names, or conning others for profit or pleasure • Tendency to irritability, anger, and aggression, as shown by repeatedly assaulting others or getting into frequent physical fights Other important characteristics of this disorder include the following: • it can’t be diagnosed if th...

What's often tricky in parenting a defiant youngster is figuring out the "is this worth fighting for?" part – especially if you have to think fast. Defiant kids and teens often make a “game” out of getting into battles with their moms and dads, and if the parent gets tricked into playing this game, she finds herself in an endless stream of warfare. So, how can you avoid fighting every battle and save your time and energy for the ones worth fighting for? Here are some important tips for knowing which battles to fight – and which ones to let go of: 1. Ask yourself, “Will this battle fight itself?” There are some things that will get addressed by default – and you can stay totally out of it (which saves you from being the “bad guy”). For example, you may be tempted to continue to battle with your defiant child over his poor teeth-brushing habits, even when the two of you have had many past battles over this issue to no avail. Instead, give a final warning: “If yo...