Outer Banks season 3: Is oppositional defiant disorder real? (Is ODD real?)

A new season of Outer Banks has finally arrived and, boy season three was well worth the wait! The new season of Netflix’s hit series has taken everything we love about Outer Banks and turned it up to eleven to deliver what just might be the show’s most ambitious and action-packed seasons yet!

While we begin the season with the Pogues marooned on Poguelandia, they quickly find their way back home, and returning to their regular lives is not as easy as any of the Pogues hoped it would be.

Warning: Outer Banks season 3 spoilers ahead

Upon returning to the Outer Banks, each of the Pogues return to very unique circumstances. For Kiara, her return is one that brings a sense of relief to her parents who had thought they’d never see her again. It also sends them a bit into overdrive as they become even more strict in attempting to forbid her from spending time with the Pogues.

As Kiara continues to act out in the eyes of her parents, her parents decide to take drastic actions by sending her away to a nature camp for misguided youth called Kitty Hawk. When going home to check in with her parents before leaving the country to go with John B and the Pogues to search for John B’s dad, Kiara is ambushed and forcefully taken away by men from Kitty Hawk.

Upon arriving at the camp, Kiara is seen by a camp physician who diagnoses Kiara with oppositional defiant disorder as a means to explain her recent behavior which they’ll look to treat.

Thankfully, JJ arrives in time to help break Kiara out and she’s able to rejoin the Pogues in their final adventure, but her brief time at Kitty Hawk is likely to raise some eyebrows leaving fans wondering if ODD is an actual disorder or a work of fiction created for the show.

Is oppositional defiant disorder real?

Across its early seasons, Outer Banks has incorporated many items that seem like they could be real but are actually works of fiction created for the show. This includes many aspects of season 3, but we can confirm oppositional defiant disorder is a real disorder recognized by medical professionals.

Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) is a behavioral disorder characterized by a consistent pattern of defiance, disobedience, and hostility towards authority figures. Children and adolescents with ODD often display a persistent pattern of arguing, being easily annoyed, and intentionally disobeying rules or requests from adults. ODD can lead to significant impairment in social, academic, and occupational functioning, and can cause distress for the individual and their family.

Treatment for ODD may involve a combination of behavioral therapy, parent training, and medication. Behavioral interventions are said to help children learn coping skills and develop more adaptive ways of interacting with others, while parent training can help parents establish consistent rules and consequences for their child’s behavior. In some cases, medication may be prescribed to address co-occurring symptoms, such as anxiety or depression.

Of course, it’s unclear if Kiara legitimately suffers from ODD, but it seems more likely that it was an incorrect diagnosis in the show due to the fact that Kiara’s parents were unable to wrap their heads around the idea of the treasures being real.

Outer Banks season 3 is streaming now on Netflix.