Oppositional Defiant Disorder

15

Review clinical trials related to Oppositional Defiant Disorder. Use filters to narrow results by trial status, phase, treatment, biological sex and sponsor.

Condition / disease
Location
Status: Not yet recruiting

Psychotherapy for Irritability in Youth: Comparing Active Treatment to Nonactive Psychoeducation Supportive Psychotherapy

Background: Irritability is defined as proneness to anger that may impair a person s ability to function. It is a common reason for why some children need mental health care. Yet no therapies have been developed just to target irritability. Researchers want to compare different types of therapy for irritability. Objective: To test different types of therapy for children and teens with severe irritability. Eligibility: People aged 8 to 16.5 years with severe irritability. Their parents are also needed. Design: Participants will have 28 study visits in 18 months. They will have a baseline visit. They will answer questions about their mood, behavior, and daily life. All parents and children will have 12 therapy sessions. Sessions will be once a week; they will last 30 to 60 minutes. Some of the child sessions may be done by telehealth. Each parent and child will have 1 of 3 therapy types: Exposure therapy (child). Participants will face things that make them angry. A therapist will help them practice managing their anger. Management therapy (parent). Therapists will coach parents on ways to manage their child s behaviors. Psychoeducation/supportive psychotherapy (child and/or parent). Participants will talk with therapists about their or their child s feelings and behaviors. They will list their problems and goals; build coping skills; learn to relax; improve communication; and work on managing stress. Sessions may be videotaped. Participants may opt out of being recorded. Participants will have phone calls every 2 weeks during therapy. They will answer questions about how they are doing. Follow-up calls will continue for 1 year after therapy.

Participants needed: 300
Trial details
Age: 8-17Biological sex: AllType: ObservationalSponsor: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)Updated: Jul 13, 2026Locations: 1
Eligibility criteria

FOR YOUTH [+4]

Active major depressive disorder or history of psychosis, bipolar I disorder, Le... [+5]

Status: Not yet recruiting

Psychotherapy for Irritability in Youth: Comparing Active Treatment to Nonactive Psychoeducation Supportive Psychotherapy

Background: Irritability is defined as proneness to anger that may impair a person s ability to function. It is a common reason for why some children need mental health care. Yet no therapies have been developed just to target irritability. Researchers want to compare different types of therapy for irritability. Objective: To test different types of therapy for children and teens with severe irritability. Eligibility: People aged 8 to 16.5 years with severe irritability. Their parents are also needed. Design: Participants will have 28 study visits in 18 months. They will have a baseline visit. They will answer questions about their mood, behavior, and daily life. All parents and children will have 12 therapy sessions. Sessions will be once a week; they will last 30 to 60 minutes. Some of the child sessions may be done by telehealth. Each parent and child will have 1 of 3 therapy types: Exposure therapy (child). Participants will face things that make them angry. A therapist will help them practice managing their anger. Management therapy (parent). Therapists will coach parents on ways to manage their child s behaviors. Psychoeducation/supportive psychotherapy (child and/or parent). Participants will talk with therapists about their or their child s feelings and behaviors. They will list their problems and goals; build coping skills; learn to relax; improve communication; and work on managing stress. Sessions may be videotaped. Participants may opt out of being recorded. Participants will have phone calls every 2 weeks during therapy. They will answer questions about how they are doing. Follow-up calls will continue for 1 year after therapy.

Participants needed: 300
Trial details
Age: 8-17Biological sex: AllType: ObservationalSponsor: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)Updated: Jul 2, 2026Locations: 1
Eligibility criteria

FOR YOUTH [+4]

Active major depressive disorder or history of psychosis, bipolar I disorder, Le... [+5]

Status: Recruiting

Testing a Measurement Feedback App to Improve Data Quality, Supervision & Outcomes in Behavioral Health

The goal of this clinical trial is to test whether a smartphone-based data collection and feedback application ("Footsteps") improves the quality of behavioral data collected by one-to-one aides and leads to better youth mental health outcomes in school-aged youth (ages 4-17) who receive one-to-one support in schools. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Does the Footsteps app improve aides' data collection quality (i.e., consistency, timeliness, and completeness)? 2. Does Footsteps use lead to improved youth behavioral health outcomes (e.g., SDQ, YTP scores)? 3. Does Footsteps improve communication and supervision processes between aides and clinical supervisors? Researchers will compare aides using Footsteps to those using a "data collection only" control app to see if Footsteps leads to higher quality data collection, enhanced supervisory communication, and better youth outcomes. Participants will: * Use either Footsteps or a control app to record de-identified data on one client's behaviors and skills over 12 weeks * Complete biweekly online surveys about data collection experiences, youth progress, and aide-supervisor communication * Participate in a virtual intake and post-trial meeting * (For a subset) Participate in a 30-45 minute qualitative interview about their experience using the app

Participants needed: 200
Trial details
Age: 18+Biological sex: AllType: InterventionalSponsor: University of PennsylvaniaUpdated: May 8, 2026Locations: 1
Eligibility criteria

Aides must be working with at least one client in school who meets the following... [+1]

Aides who participated in the pilot trial of the Footsteps will be excluded from...

Status: Recruiting

Pathways 2 Success

This study involves a 3-arm randomized controlled trial designed to investigate the feasibility and acceptability of three preventive interventions designed to reduce risk for escalations in adolescent conduct problems. High school students identified to be at risk for conduct problems will be randomly assigned to one of three intervention options, including a mindfulness-based program, a mindfulness-based program augmented by a new mobile app, and a life skills program. Assessments related to intervention outcomes will be completed by adolescents, parents/guardians, and teachers at baseline, 2 weeks post-intervention, and at a 3-month follow-up.

Participants needed: 120
Trial details
Phase: Phase 1, Phase 2Age: 13-17Biological sex: AllType: InterventionalSponsor: University of MinnesotaUpdated: Apr 13, 2026Locations: 1
Eligibility criteria

A 9th or 10th grade student in a partner school district [+2]

Currently receiving special education services (i.e., an IEP) due to a behaviora... [+1]

Status: Recruiting

Matching Assessment and Treatment for Children With Disruptive Behaviour and Their Parents

This study will develop and test whether personalized profiles of children with Disruptive Behaviour Disorder (DBD) and their parents based on important psychological, emotional, and neuropsychological indicators predict their response to child cognitive behavioral treatment and Behavioral Parent Training.

Participants needed: 200
Trial details
Age: 6-12Biological sex: AllType: InterventionalSponsor: Centre for Addiction and Mental HealthUpdated: Mar 17, 2026Locations: 1
Eligibility criteria

Child is borderline/clinically at risk on the Child Behaviour Checklist (CBCL) o... [+2]

Child has an ongoing query or diagnosis of Pervasive Developmental Disorder or A... [+5]

Status: Recruiting

ACTsocially: The (Dis)Similarities of ACT for Changing Internalizing and Externalizing Symptomatology in Adolescence

Social functioning, fundamental to adolescent's development and mental health, may be impaired by polarizing problematic social functioning, namely externalizing symptoms manifested by Oppositional Defiant Disorder and internalizing symptoms portrayed by Social Anxiety Disorder. Despite their high prevalence and similar associated impairments, interventions targeting these disorders are differently conceived. Alternatively, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) proposes that those apparently dissimilar social difficulties are rooted in similar processes. Though research has shown ACTs' efficacy in changing adults' internalizing and externalizing symptoms, studies on the potential of ACT in changing those problematics in adolescence are still scarce. This project proposes to conduct three clinical trials to test the efficacy and (dis)similarities of an transdiagnostic ACT intervention for changing internalizing and externalizing symptomatology in adolescents. It will amplify the transdiagnostic and evidence-based application of ACT to adolescents presenting polarizing disorders in the social functioning spectrum.

Participants needed: 54
Trial details
Age: 12-18Biological sex: AllType: InterventionalSponsor: University of CoimbraUpdated: Mar 10, 2026Locations: 1
Eligibility criteria

Main diagnosis of Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) [+3]

Impaired cognitive development based on school records [+3]

Status: Recruiting

Step-by-Step: Evaluation of a Stepped Care Model

The primary aim of this project is to examine the effectiveness of a stepped care model of interventions for children's defiant or aggressive behavior problems. The stepped model consists of a brief internet-based parenting support program (Step 1). For those with continued need of additional interventions, Step 2 includes access to one of following interventions: b) a Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) -Virtual Reality (VR)-assisted parenting support program, b) a Cognitive Behavior Therapy -Virtual Reality-assisted child intervention, or c) standard interventions/support at the family's unit/clinic and continued access to the study's internet-based parenting support program, after which the family may choose CBT-VR for the child or the parent.

Participants needed: 210
Trial details
Age: 8-16Biological sex: AllType: InterventionalSponsor: Karolinska InstitutetUpdated: Mar 6, 2026Locations: 1
Eligibility criteria

Families with children aged 8-16 years who have difficulty controlling anger or... [+2]

Families with children younger than 8 years old or who have already turned 17, o... [+3]

Status: Not yet recruiting

Effects and Implementation of a Brief Version of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects and feasibility of a shortened version of Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), supplemented with video vignettes of parenting skills and 360-virtual reality (VR)-films for parents of children aged 2-7 years with disruptive behavior problems. The main questions the study aims to answer, using a Single-Case Experimental Design, are: 1. How feasible and acceptable is the implementation of brief PCIT-VR in Sweden? 2. What are the preliminary effects of brief PCIT-VR? 3. How do parents and clinicians experience brief PCIT-VR? Families at child and adolescent psychiatry clinics will receive up to 10 PCIT sessions. Caregivers complete quantitative assessments before, during, after treatment, and at 6-months follow-up, and are asked to participate in interviews after PCIT. Feasibility and acceptability of brief PCIT VR is evaluated, as well as effectiveness outcomes, including changes in child disruptive behavior and parenting skills. Within-group analyses will examine trends in outcome measures over time.

Participants needed: 15
Trial details
Age: 2-7Biological sex: AllType: InterventionalSponsor: Karolinska InstitutetUpdated: Oct 1, 2025Locations: 2
Eligibility criteria

Child aged 2-7 years [+2]

Child or family requiring more urgent intervention [+1]

Status: Not yet recruiting

Is Mentalization-based Therapy More Effective Than Treatment-as-usual for Adolescents With Dissocial Disorders?

The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate if Mentalization-based therapy (MBT) is superior to enhanced usual care (treatment-as-usual-plus (TAU-plus)) for adolescents with disruptive behavior or dissocial disorders. MBT is an intervention that aims to improve mentalizing. Mentalizing is the ability to reflect on mental states in oneself and others that motivate behavior. TAU-plus consists of psychiatric care for the adolescent, along with additional emotion-focused skills training for the parents. Participants will be randomized in one of two groups using one study center.

Participants needed: 90
Trial details
Age: 12-19Biological sex: AllType: InterventionalSponsor: University Hospital HeidelbergUpdated: Sep 18, 2025Locations: 1
Eligibility criteria

Primary diagnosis of Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) / Conduct-dissocial dis... [+4]

Severe acute substance dependence requiring inpatient detoxification [+4]

Status: Recruiting

Digital Dyadic Family Based Intervention to Improve Sleep in Children with ODD and Their Parents: NiteCAPP SINCC (Pilot)

In this proposal a brief web-based cognitive behavioral treatment for insomnia (CBT-I) for children with oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and their parents is iteratively adapted and tested for acceptability, feasibility, and preliminary efficacy.

Participants needed: 30
Trial details
Age: 8-17Biological sex: AllType: InterventionalSponsor: University of South FloridaUpdated: Mar 28, 2025Locations: 1
Eligibility criteria

Child ages 8-17 with ODD (prior diagnosis) and insomnia [+4]

Parent unable to provide informed consent or child unable to provide assent [+8]

Status: Recruiting

SLEEP-COPE: Sleep Intervention for Oppositional Children

Children with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) are at risk for insomnia, arousal dysfunction, mood problems, and noncompliance. Cognitive behavioral treatment for insomnia (CBT-I) holds promise for improving insomnia and related concerns. Telehealth delivery will reduce the burden of in-person sessions, particularly in areas where there is low mental healthcare access. Telehealth CBT-I is efficacious in adults and children but has not been tested in children with ODD. The proposed trial is the next logical step - development and iterative testing of SLEEP-COPE, a brief dyadic telehealth CBT-I for children with ODD and their parents.

Participants needed: 25
Trial details
Age: 8-12Biological sex: AllType: InterventionalSponsor: University of South FloridaUpdated: Mar 28, 2025Locations: 1
Eligibility criteria

Child ages 8-12 with ODD (prior diagnosis) and insomnia [+4]

Parent unable to provide informed consent or child unable to provide assent [+8]

Status: Recruiting

Big Feelings: A Study on Children's Emotions in Therapy

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn about how psychotherapy works for children and adolescents aged 8 - 15 with anxiety, depression, trauma, or disruptive behaviour. The main question it aims to answer is: • Is the biobehavioural regulation of negative emotion a transdiagnostic mechanism of treatment response in psychotherapy for children with anxiety, depression, trauma and/or disruptive behaviour? Children and their parents will be randomly assigned to an evidence-based, transdiagnostic treatment (the Modular Approach to Therapy for Children with Anxiety, Depression, Trauma, and Conduct Problems; MATCH-ADTC) or a waitlist control condition. Participants in both groups will complete a baseline assessment, weekly measures consisting of brief symptom scales and medication tracking, and quarterly assessments every 3 months. Following the intervention/waitlist period, our team will conduct post-test assessments. All assessments, except for the weekly surveys, will consist of symptom scales, clinical interviews, experimental tasks and physiological measures.

Participants needed: 202
Trial details
Age: 8-15Biological sex: AllType: InterventionalSponsor: University of GuelphUpdated: Jan 29, 2025Locations: 2
Eligibility criteria

Child must be between the ages of 8 and 15 years old and have English proficienc... [+2]

Child has low cognitive functioning that would prevent active participation in r... [+3]

Status: Not yet recruiting

Pilot Study of Parent Training With Role-plays in Virtual Reality for Parents of Children With Behavior Problems

The main aim of this pilot trial is to evaluate preliminary effects and feasibility of a new parent training program for parents of children aged 8-16 years with disruptive behavior (e.g., angry, aggressive or defiant behavior). The parent training program is based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and includes practicing of skills in virtual reality (VR). The main questions the project aims to answer are: * What are the preliminary effects of the CBT-VR parent training program? * What is the level of parent engagement in the CBT-VR parent training program? * What are the experiences of parents and therapists of the CBT-VR parent training program? The CBT-VR parenting program is delivered at clinics during individual sessions. Parents will answer quantitative measurements before, during, and after treatment. Within-group analyses will be conducted to examine experiences and preliminary effects of the program. Parents and clinicians are also asked to participate in a qualitative interview after the program has ended.

Participants needed: 10
Trial details
Age: 8-16Biological sex: AllType: InterventionalSponsor: Karolinska InstitutetUpdated: Aug 19, 2024
Eligibility criteria

Parent of a child aged 8-16 years [+2]

Parent of a child under 8 years or over 16 years of age [+3]

Status: Not yet recruiting

Pilot Study of Cognitive Behavior Therapy With Role-plays in Virtual Reality for Children With Behavior Problems

The main aim of this small pilot trial is to evaluate preliminary effects and feasibility of the child intervention YourSkills for child disruptive behavior (e.g., enhanced anger or aggressive behavior) when evaluated in Sweden for children/youth aged 10-16 years. YourSkills is based on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and includes practicing of skills in virtual reality (VR). The main questions the project aims to answer are: * What are the preliminary effects of the child/youth CBT-VR-program? * What is the level of child/youth engagement in the CBT-VR program? * What are the experiences of parents, children/youth and therapists of the program? The CBT-VR program is delivered at clinics during ten individual sessions. Parents will answer quantitative measurements before and after treatment, children will answer quantitative measurements before, during and after treatment. Within- group analyses will be conducted to examine experiences and preliminary effects of the program. Parents, children and clinicians are also asked to participate in a qualitative interview after the program has ended.

Participants needed: 10
Trial details
Age: 10-16Biological sex: AllType: InterventionalSponsor: Karolinska InstitutetUpdated: Aug 19, 2024
Eligibility criteria

Child/youth aged between 10-16 years with increased levels of anger or disruptiv... [+1]

Child/youth is below 10 years or above 16 years of age [+3]

Status: Recruiting

Emotion Regulation as a Moderator of Two Different Treatments for Children With ODD

The goal of this randomized controlled trial is to is to test emotion regulation as a moderator of two different treatments for children with Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD). The main question it aims to answer is whether treatment gains be increased when children with ODD receive a treatment congruent with their emotion regulation skill problems. Participants will be divided into two groups based on their response patterns; a high emotion dysregulation group and a low emotion dysregulation group. Within each group, children will then be randomly assigned to either a behavioral parent training intervention or a child directed treatment involving problem solving and emotion regulation skills.

Participants needed: 196
Trial details
Age: 6-12Biological sex: AllType: InterventionalSponsor: University of IcelandUpdated: Jan 8, 2024Locations: 1
Eligibility criteria

Diagnosed with Oppositional Defiant Disorder [+1]

IQ below 70 (full scale score)