In a case of oppositional defiant disorder, patients repeatedly violate social norms and other people’s rights. It is manifested with behaviours like disobedience, conflicts with adults or authority, aggressive behaviour towards people or animals, destruction of property, theft or deceit, truancy or running away from home.

Children or young people with oppositional defiant disorder display irascible behaviour, disobeying authority figures. They tend to lose their cool easily, argue frequently and often blame others for these behaviours. They experience clear difficulties in regulating their emotions and behaviour, which is often accompanied by impulsivity and difficulties in anticipating the consequences of their actions.

In cases of oppositional defiant disorder, the patient must be provided with behavioural and emotional self-control strategies, helping them improve tolerance to frustration and working on social skills so that they can interact correctly with their peers. Strategies for solving interpersonal problems are also necessary for young people to be able to deal with difficulties they may encounter with other people in a socially adequate manner.

It is essential that the family and the school work together to establish a clear, specific and predictable system of rules and consequences that help the child or young person regulate their behaviour, as well as provide guidelines on communication and behaviour modification that improve interaction with the child or young person in each context. It should be borne in mind that behavioural disorders and oppositional defiant disorder may present other comorbid disorders like ADHD, depression, anxiety, learning disorders or substance abuse, which will be assessed to determine whether further intervention is necessary.