Troubled Teens Resources

Teens at risk for behavioral problems display a variety of characteristics, making it very difficult for parents to determine if the teen is slipping into a rebellious stage or if there are deeper problems to be addressed. Parents of ADHD teens are concerned that the ADHD pre-disposes their teens to Oppositional Defiant Disorder or predisposes them for problems with teen age drug abuse.

“Many children with oppositional defiant disorder have other treatable conditions such as ADHD, depression and anxiety. If these conditions are left untreated, managing ODD can be very difficult for the parents, and frustrating for the affected child. Kids with oppositional defiant disorder may have trouble in school with teachers and other authority figures and may struggle to make friends.

ODD may be a precursor to other, more severe behavioral disorders such as conduct disorder, but this is controversial.”

Though the factors that may lead to ODD are not known, the more risk factors in evidence, the stronger the likelihood of it being present. They are as follows:

• Having a parent with a mood or substance abuse disorder
• Being abused or neglected
• Harsh or inconsistent discipline
• Lack of supervision
• Poor relationship with one or both parents
• Family instability such as multiple moves, changing schools frequently
• Parents with a history of ADHD, oppositional defiant disorder or conduct problems
• Financial problems in the family
• Peer rejection
• Exposure to violence
• Frequent changes in daycare providers
• Parents who have a troubled marriage or are divorced

(Source)