Comparison and Contrast between Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder and Intermittent Explosive Disorder

Comparison and Contrast between Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder and Intermittent Explosive Disorder

Comparison and Contrast between Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder and Intermittent Explosive Disorder

Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD) is a new condition that was added to the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders to eliminate doubts about the over-diagnosis of bipolar disorder among adolescents and children. DMDD clinically presents itself in the form of severe and persistent irritability in the affected population.

The main signs of the condition include severe temper outbursts that recur and manifest through verbal rages or physical aggression, difficulties with emotional regulation, inability to tolerate frustrations, difficulties with behavioral self-control and distress intolerance (Parker & Tavella, 2018).

During comprehensive assessment, professional counselors must assess the frequency of outbursts and age of the patient. Correct diagnosis with the condition occurs when a child experiences outbursts for a minimum of three times every week over a period of one year and across two or more social settings including at home, in school or with their peers (Coccaro, 2018).

The child must also manifest anger or irritable behavior throughout the day to meet the diagnostic criteria. When assessing children for the condition, it is important for professional counselors to focus on those between the ages of six and eighteen. Furthermore, the onset of symptoms must be present before the child reaches ten.

In comparison to DMDD, intermittent explosive disorder (IED) is a disorder that manifests through anger outbursts expressed in the form of verbal attacks or physical aggression. Additionally, similar to DMDD, the anger manifested may cause damage of property or physical harm to other people or animals (Scott et al, 2020)

However, contrary to DMDD where the outbursts are a result of frustrations, stressors or distress, the temper outbursts in IED are not premeditated and occur without any trigger. A child with the listed signs meets the diagnostic criteria if they experience verbal rage or physical aggression for at least twice a week for a period of three months.

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The child must also exhibit three severe anger outbursts that cause damage of property or harm to people or animals over a period of 12 months. Furthermore, IED causes a functional impairment for the patient (Rynar & Coccaro, 2018) During assessment, professional counselors must focus on degree of aggressiveness, the frequency of occurrence of the outbursts and their impact both on the child and on those around them.

References

Coccaro, E. F. (2018). DSM-5 intermittent explosive disorder: relationship with disruptive mood dysregulation disorder. Comprehensive psychiatry, 84, 118-121. DOI:10.1016/j.comppsych.2018.04.011

Parker, G., & Tavella, G. (2018). Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder: a critical perspective. The Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 63(12), 813-815. https://doi.org/10.1177/0706743718789900

Rynar, L., & Coccaro, E. F. (2018). Psychosocial impairment in DSM-5 intermittent explosive disorder. Psychiatry research, 264, 91-95. doi: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.03.077

Scott, K. M., De Vries, Y. A., Aguilar-Gaxiola, S., Al-Hamzawi, A., Alonso, J., Bromet, E. J., … & De Jonge, P. (2020). Intermittent explosive disorder subtypes in the general population: association with comorbidity, impairment and suicidality. Epidemiology and psychiatric sciences, 29. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S2045796020000517