Signs and Treatment of Oppositional Defiant Disorder

Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is a type of behavioral disorders, typical for children in preschool and early school age. It is shown by aggression, brutality, defiance and a tendency to irritate and bully others. Although often many children behave like that, oppositional defiant disorder is characterized by a persistent and hostile behavior for at least 6 months.

What signs of child's behavior may help to determine oppositional defiant disorder?

Here they are:

• often loses his temper;

• refuses to comply with rules and requests of adults, showing disobedience;

• often argues with adults;

• deliberately annoys people around them;

• often irritable and easily loses his temper;

• blame others in his own mistakes or misconduct;

• showing malice and revenge;

• often angry and offended.

The key difference of ODD from other behavioral abnormalities is the lack of apparent violations of the rights of others and the existing laws (stealing, fighting, cruelty, destructiveness, assault, etc.). There are also no characteristic signs of affective, psychotic and conductive disorders.

The main causes of oppositional defiant disorder are the following factors:

• biological factor (abnormal changes in the function of neurotransmitters of the brain);

• genetic predisposition (heredity);

• external factors (psychological environment at home or at school);

• delays in development.

Disturbances in behavior often become the cause of significant deterioration of the child's social, professional and academic activity. According to statistics, at least 5% of children today can be diagnosed with oppositional defiant disorder. Many child psychologists reasonably associate ODD with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Of course, not all children suffering from ADHD have ODD. However, many of these children do have it (about 65%).

In many children, suffering from ODD, symptoms disappear with time. For example, a rebellious teenager could turn into quite accommodating an adult. Nevertheless, some signs may remain for a lifetime. And aggressive two-year-old toddler is likely to grow into the same aggressive adult.

What can we advise to parents of children with ODD?

• encourage the child to interact and flexibility;

• try to self-control;

• develop a strategy for their behavior;

• set boundaries, which the child must adhere to;

• do not act alone (interact with a spouse, coach, teacher);

• avoid mental and physical exhaustion (the child should not take all your time and energy).

The treatment of oppositional defiant disorder is profession of child psychiatrists, psychologists and therapists who have appropriate experience. They can prescribe medication for kids with ODD. In most cases, doctors give advices, related to the child and his family.

What you should know about kids with oppositional defiant disorder?

Original article

ADHD and Behavioral Modification - Could This ADHD Treatment Approach Be Right For You?

ADHD is short for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder which is a condition consisting of problematic behaviors that impact a person's ability to function normally in a number of different areas; mainly the ability to maintain focus, exhibit impulsive actions, and become noticeably hyperactive or restless.

As perplexing as the condition itself can be perhaps the most confusing facet of ADHD is finding the right treatment approach capable of delivering results without inviting unwanted side effects. One of the options often preferred by many psychologists is behavioral modification therapy. In this article we will take a closer look at behavioral therapy as it applies to ADHD.

Behavior consists of feeding information forward and then returning an answer or solution that may be internalized or physically acted upon. For example, you decide you are hungry in between meals, so you grab a snack to tide you over for a few hours. Once done you evaluate whether your snack achieved its intended purpose. If it didn't you probably will reach for another snack and eat it. Mission accomplished!

If you have adult ADHD, your brain's feed-forward and feed-back processes may not be in synch. While you likely have little trouble knowing you are hungry, and that a snack is needed, you may have trouble following through on your decision, evaluating whether you did the right thing, and figuring out the next step if you didn't do the right thing.

For example, someone without attention deficit disorder would get hungry, quickly consume their favorite snack, and feel relieved or satisfied. But an adult with ADHD may face various distractions along the way. They may become distracted and forget about the healthy snack in desk opting for the co-workers half eaten bag of chips which is sure to leave them feeling flat in a half hour or so. If the healthy snack in the desk isn't remembered chances are they will simply decide the best option is fight through the hunger until lunch or dinner, possible leading to an episode of binge eating. Additionally, after the binge eating episode someone with ADHD will likely remember the perfect snack was in their desk drawer all along.

Behavioral Modification and ADHD

Does the name Ivan Pavlov ring a bell? Many will know the name instantly while others will not. Nevertheless, Pavlov gained famed by training dogs to salivate at the sound of a bell - a case of rewarding and modifying behavior that usually cannot be consciously controlled. Pavlov's experiments illustrated how learned responses can be suppressed. His experiments were then modified and adapted by the Americans Skinner and Wolpe to produce what we currently refer to as behavioral modification therapy.

Skinner was a pioneer in the area of operant conditioning which accepts the premise that behavior generally understood as intentional and conscious is modified by changing the response to elicits. Wolpe gained his fame for his groundbreaking efforts in the areas of desensitization and assertiveness training.

By the 1970's, behavioral therapy was embraced by the mental health community and became a mainstay for treating such challenging conditions as anxiety, depression, and phobias. During the 1980's it was adopted as a way to treat the new and controversial condition we now refer to as ADHD.

While many therapist still use conventional behavioral therapy to treat ADHD others have adopted newer forms of behavior modification therapies including cognitive behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy. Traditional behavioral therapy seems to do the most good in institutionalized settings which are already highly structured and where rewards and penalties can take on the form basic life needs.

What next? For adults struggling with ADHD finding an effective treatment option is an important first step. The most common forms of treatment are prescription stimulants such as Ritalin, Adderall and non-stimulant medications such as Intuniv or Strattera. While effective, all ADHD prescription medications come with a number of serious label warnings.

The risk of side effects, or perhaps lack of success (30% of the time), has prompted many adults to consider non-prescription options such as behavior therapy and/or homeopathic ADHD remedies. Natural remedies such as these are a side effect free way to address such problematic adult ADHD symptoms as inattention, distractibility, impulsivity, erratic behavior and restlessness which can be used both as a standalone treatment or as a compliment to other non-prescription alternatives. They also have been shown to produce long-term lasting benefits about half of the time.

Robert D. Hawkins is an enthusiastic consumer advocate for natural health and natural living with over 10 years experience in the field. To discover more about ADHD along with information about a safe and effective herbal and homeopathic ADHD remedies Click Here

Original article

ADHD Treatment Programs for Teens

Most teens diagnosed with ADHD are normally given prescribed medications to control the symptoms. While medication is the fastest way to improve focus and reduce impulsivity, it is also known to cause serious side effects that may aggravate the disorder. It's also fairly common for teens with ADHD to sell or trade their excess pills to friends, who use them like they would use cocaine and other substances. One of the best ways to manage ADHD in teens is to look for a treatment program with a specialized academic plan and behavior modification approach. Keep these characteristics in mind while you look for schools or treatment programs:

Structured activities

Teens and adolescents with no focus or direction have difficulty using their time productively. An environment that sets limits and encourages self-discipline will minimize the tendency to procrastinate and teach kids how to manage their time wisely. Look for a school with a structured program - that is, well-defined rules and a rigorous schedule. The routine enforced by the school will do much to counteract the symptoms of ADHD.

Individualized education

Most students with ADHD struggle to pay attention in a traditional lecture-style classroom setting because the medium of instruction fails to engage their interest. Additionally, the traditional classroom expects everyone to learn at the same pace, but the limitations of the disorder tend to make ADHD students fall behind. Look for a school that uses diverse instructional methods like hands-on learning or multimedia presentation. Montessori schools offer this type of self-directed instruction, and it's not surprising that ADHD teens in these types of schools do better when they are allowed to learn at their own pace.

Minimal distractions

It's not uncommon for kids and teens with ADHD to have difficulty finishing projects and meeting goals due to lack of focus. Choose an academic environment with fewer distractions so your child can make significant achievements in terms of academics and personal growth. Common distractions include large student populations, frequent announcements, and social activity. Place a limit on the amount of time your child can spend with his or her friends on school days.

Interpersonal skills

If your child has difficulty building and maintaining relationships, look for a treatment program that will improve his or her interpersonal skills. Your child may need some help with proper communication, especially in terms of expressing their feelings and reacting to feedback. Other social skills that should be given emphasis include impulse control, delaying gratification, and anger management. Once your child masters these skills, he or she will have greater success making friends and maintaining these relationships.

Dr. Yannick Pauli is an expert on natural approaches to ADHD and the author of the popular self-help home-program The Unritalin Solution. He is Director of the Centre Neurofit in Lausanne, Switzerland and has a passion taking care of children with ADHD. Click on the link for more great information about what is ADHD.

Original article

ADHD Natural Treatment: Gardening

Believe it or not, the hobby of gardening is no longer limited to grandmothers and housewives. Due to rising grocery costs and tighter food budgets, more and more people are rediscovering the joys of working with the earth and helping vegetables grow. Even the United States' First Lady Michelle Obama is tending to a garden that grows 55 different kinds of vegetables, which feed the residents and staff of the White house. However, gardening is not just for budget-conscious families. Studies show that this hobby makes a fantastic ADHD natural treatment for kids and teens. Here's why.

Better nutrition

According to a study of elementary and junior high students, researchers observed that kids and teens that tend to a garden at school or at home are more willing to try new foods, are more aware about good nutrition, and eat more vegetables and fruits. As you are probably already aware, many cases of childhood ADHD are triggered by nutritional deficiencies caused by the typical Western diet. While ADHD diets and supplements can replenish some of these lost nutrients, not all children are willing to give up burgers, potato chips, and other processed foods, even if it's just for a couple of weeks. Gardening might make going on an ADHD diet easier; at the very least, it may help your child develop healthier eating habits.

Learn responsibility

Gardens will not flourish without someone to nourish the plants and protect them from pests and nature's wrath. Schools that implemented garden projects discovered that the garden promotes responsibility among students as they accomplish chores and work as a team in a meaningful manner. Students choose the chores and crops they should be responsible for, allowing them to be nurturing caregivers who take pride in their work. If they lose their focus or neglect their responsibilities, they experience the consequences of their action - the plants wither or fail to produce, and food will not grow. Gardening reinforces patience and responsibility in ways that other activities cannot.

Opportunities to socialize

Kids and teens with ADHD aren't always the most popular kids in school, especially if they have little control over their ADHD symptoms. Teachers have observed that gardening brings out a side of ADHD students that don't normally appear in their usual interactions with classmates. Since they now share something in common, those with ADHD have opportunities to spend time with other kids they wouldn't have gotten to know otherwise. The non-competitive, small group environment also teaches positive conflict-resolution skills and the importance of teamwork.

Encourages physical activity

Lack of exercise is another trigger of ADHD; children spend almost 8 hours a day sitting in the classroom, then most of their free time sitting in front of homework, in front of the television, or in front of the computer. This lifestyle gives them little room to release their pent-up energy or to stretch their postural muscles, the brain's largest source of physical stimulation. A garden, however, keeps idle hands busy and requires kids to move around.

For these reasons, talk to your child's school about starting a gardening project, or create space in your backyard for your child's own vegetable garden.

Dr. Yannick Pauli is an expert on natural approaches to ADHD and the author of the popular self-help home-program The Unritalin Solution. He is Director of the Centre Neurofit in Lausanne, Switzerland and has a passion taking care of children with ADHD. Click on the link for more great information about what is ADHD.

Original article