Disruptive Behavior Disorder Treatment in India

Anjali Mehta, a 9-year-old girl from...

Anjali Mehta, a 9-year-old girl from a close-knit family, had always been a bright but intense child. Over the past two years, her parents and teachers noticed a troubling pattern. Anjali would have explosive, hours-long tantrums over minor frustrations, like a change in routine or losing a game. She frequently argued with adults, deliberately defied rules, and had been suspended twice for physically lashing out at classmates who 'annoyed' her. At home, her outbursts left the family walking on eggshells. Her pediatrician, after ruling out other causes, referred her to a child psychiatrist, Dr. Rao. Dr. Rao diagnosed Anjali with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). He recommended a multi-pronged approach: Parent Management Training for her parents to learn consistent, non-confrontational strategies, and weekly Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Anjali to help her identify triggers and develop coping skills for her anger. The treatment was challenging. Anjali was initially resistant in therapy, and her parents struggled to implement the new techniques consistently. However, over six months, they began to see progress. Anjali learned to use a 'feelings chart' and to ask for a break. Her parents learned to use praise and reward systems effectively. A year later, Anjali's outbursts are less frequent, less severe, and shorter. She hasn't had a school suspension in eight months and has begun to make a friend. The emotional journey was one of family-wide exhaustion and guilt transforming into cautious hope. Anjali feels less at the mercy of her own anger, and her parents feel equipped to support her, rebuilding the warmth that had been eroded by constant conflict.