Question

The nurse is caring for a 13-year-old boy with a history of inappropriate behavior.

Which statement by the mother would lead the nurse to suspect oppositional defiant disorder
rather than conduct disorder?
A) He has frequent temper tantrums.
B) He was pulling the neighbor's dog around by his leash.
C) He is constantly lying to me.
D) He has stolen hundreds of dollars from my purse.

Answer 1

In a 13-year-old boy with a history of inappropriate behavior, frequent temper tantrums can indicate oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) rather than conduct disorder, which is marked by more severe behaviors like mistreatment of animals, deceitfulness, or theft.

Step-by-step explanation:

The mother's statement that would lead the nurse to suspect oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) rather than conduct disorder in a 13-year-old boy with a history of inappropriate behavior is "He has frequent temper tantrums." ODD is characterized by a pattern of angry/irritable mood, argumentative/defiant behavior, or vindictiveness. This would likely manifest as temper tantrums and difficulty in controlling emotions. On the other hand, conduct disorder involves a repetitive and persistent pattern of behavior in which the basic rights of others or major appropriate societal norms or rules are violated. Examples of this could be pulling the neighbor's dog around by his leash, constant lying, or stealing large sums of money, which are more severe behaviors indicative of conduct disorder.