answer:That is a gross misrepresentation of what Oppositional Defiant Disorder is. A link to the actual DSM-IV criteria may be a good start. You can also see the changes between the latest version and the new one, note that there’s essentially no difference. So, is “nonconformity and freethinking a mental illness”? I’d say manifestly not. Note that, despite the article’s picture, you must meet a significantly higher bar than “arguing with authority” to be labeled with ODD. It’s an extended pattern of aggressive actions, and it has to cause “clinically significant impairment in social, academic, or occupational functioning” and “more frequently than is typically observed in individuals of comparable age and developmental level”, so pathologizing teenagers this also is not. Being annoyed or argumentative is not a mental illness. Being constantly upset, touchy, argumentative, and violent for half a year, so much so that you can’t work in society? That is a mental illness. Freethinking that is not. Also also, this is very typically a child’s disorder, not adults. It’s for excessively hostile children. Also, again, I’ve checked and this has changed very little from DSM-III, which makes this freakout a little disingenuous. It used to be: A pattern, for at least six months, of disobedient, negativistic, and provocative opposition to authority figures, as manifested by at least two of the following symptoms: (1) violations of minor rules (2) temper tantrums (3) argumentativeness (4) provocative behavior (5) stubbornness If anything, the new rules are more stringent (you must meet four criteria instead of two) and far more specific to particular behaviors, making it less likely to be diagnosed. Also also also, there is no medication for ODD! Current treament is talk therapy of various kinds. Again, grossly, grossly misrepresented. Also, in general, anything that quotes Natural News as a legit source is not going to go well.