Which statement best differentiates oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) from conduct disorder?

• A. ODD features persistent, hostile, defiant behavior without serious violations of others' rights.
• B. ODD is defined by recurrent aggressive acts toward people and property.
• C. Conduct disorder is characterized by mood instability.
• D. ODD entails episodic psychosis with delusions.

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is distinguishing the level of behavior disturbance between oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder by focusing on what behaviors are present and how severe they are. Oppositional defiant disorder involves a persistent pattern of angry/irritable mood, argumentative/defiant behavior, and vindictiveness toward authority figures, but it does not include serious violations of others’ rights or property. That boundary—the absence of serious harm or rule-violating acts—is what sets it apart from conduct disorder.

That’s why the best statement describes ODD as defiant and hostile behavior without crossing into acts that harm others or violate their rights. The other descriptions point to patterns more typical of conduct disorder (recurrent aggression toward people and property), or mischaracterize the disorders (mood instability; psychotic symptoms), which aren’t defining features of ODD.