National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Prepare for the National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination with targeted questions, detailed explanations, and helpful hints. Master core concepts to excel in your test!

Practice this question and more.

For a diagnosis of Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), how many symptoms are required for the diagnosis?

Three
Four
Five
Six

The correct answer is: Four

To diagnose Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), the criteria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) specify that a child or adolescent must display at least four symptoms from a specified list over a period of time. These symptoms should reflect a pattern of angry or irritable mood, argumentative or defiant behavior, or vindictiveness. Achieving this threshold of four symptoms is critical for establishing a diagnosis of ODD, as it helps clinical professionals identify a consistent pattern of behavior that is indicative of the disorder. The requirement for four symptoms captures the complexity of the disorder, highlighting that merely exhibiting a few defiant behaviors does not necessarily justify a clinical diagnosis. This threshold supports a more nuanced understanding of the child's behavior within the context of their environment, relationships, and developmental stage. Therefore, a minimum of four symptoms is required for the diagnosis of ODD, making the correct answer pivotal for proper clinical assessment.