Preschool boys with oppositional defiant disorder: Clinical presentation and diagnostic change

Objective: Little is known about the clinical presentation and course of op positional defiant disorder (ODD) when first diagnosed in the preschool yea rs. Patterns of ODD symptomatology, comorbidity, persistence of disorder, a nd predictors of diagnostic outcome were examined in clinic-referred presch ool boys. Method: Boys (aged 4-5.5 years) with a DSM-III-R diagnosis of ODD were prospectively followed over a 2-year period. Multiple assessment proc edures were used, including a modified version of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children and parent and teacher ratings. Results: Ninety-two b oys (mean age 56.9 months) with ODD were followed; 42 had comorbid attentio n-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Among 79 boys assessed 2 years lat er, 76% had ODD, ADHD, or both. Of those, 25% had other diagnoses as well, primarily anxiety and/or mood disorders. Conduct disorder was rare. Subject s with comorbid ODD/ADHD at intake were significantly more likely to have a psychiatric disorder at follow-up, especially ADHD alone. Conclusions: The findings suggest that ODD in the preschool period is a clear indicator of high risk, especially when co-occurring with ADHD. Further investigation of individual patterns of ODD symptom expression is recommended.