Defiance

Abstract

Approximately one-quarter of children with ADHD experience significant difficulties in conforming to rules and regulations appropriate for their age, and these difficulties are usually seen both at home and at school. Parents of such children quickly learn that smacking and other forms of punishment are ineffective. Performance inconsistency, which is a prominent feature of ADHD, is often misinterpreted as implying that the child could succeed if only more effort were made. This chapter explores defiance in ADHD, including compliance as a function of the brain, the severity of defiant behaviour (oppositional disorder, conduct disorder), and the treatment of defiant behaviour.