A 9 year-old boy exhibits an extremely negative attitude. What is the most likely diagnosis?

In children, an extremely negative attitude often manifests as a pattern of angry, irritable mood, argumentative behavior, or defiance toward authority figures. This aligns with the characteristics of oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), where children frequently engage in oppositional behavior such as arguing, refusing to comply with requests, and deliberately annoying others.

The diagnosis requires that these behaviors occur for at least six months and are observable in interactions with at least one individual who is not a sibling. Children with ODD often exhibit a negative attitude and may have difficulty regulating their emotions, leading to frustrating relationships with peers and adults.

In contrast, the other options describe different behavioral patterns. Attention deficit disorder typically involves inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity but does not primarily feature a negative attitude. Conduct disorder includes more severe antisocial behaviors, such as aggression towards people or animals, destruction of property, deceitfulness, or serious violations of rules but is usually diagnosed later and presents with a more pervasive pattern of behavioral issues. Antisocial personality disorder is typically diagnosed in older adolescents or adults, characterized by a persistent pattern of disregard for the rights of others, which is not applicable in this case of a 9-year-old.

Therefore, the consistent display of a negative attitude