Full Answer
Intermittent explosive disorder involves repeated, sudden episodes of impulsive, aggressive, violent behavior or angry verbal outbursts in which you react grossly out of proportion to the situation.
If you recognize your own behavior in the description of intermittent explosive disorder, talk with your doctor about treatment options or ask for a referral to a mental health professional. Intermittent explosive disorder can begin in childhood — after the age of 6 years — or during the teenage years.
These factors increase your risk of developing intermittent explosive disorder: 1 History of physical abuse. People who were abused as children or experienced multiple traumatic events have an increased... 2 History of other mental health disorders. People who have antisocial personality disorder, borderline personality... More ...
The explosive verbal and behavioral outbursts are out of proportion to the situation, with no thought to consequences, and can include: 1 Temper tantrums 2 Tirades 3 Heated arguments 4 Shouting 5 Slapping, shoving or pushing 6 Physical fights 7 Property damage 8 Threatening or assaulting people or animals
The exact cause of the disorder is unknown, but it's probably caused by a number of environmental and biological factors. Environment. Most people with this disorder grew up in families where explosive behavior and verbal and physical abuse were common.
Intermittent explosive disorder is a diagnosis that characterizes individuals who have episodes of dyscontrol, assaultive acts, and extreme aggression that is out of proportion to the precipitating event and is not explained by another Axis I or an Axis II disorder.
Intermittent explosive disorder (IED) is an impulse-control disorder characterized by sudden episodes of unwarranted anger. The disorder is typified by hostility, impulsivity, and recurrent aggressive outbursts. People with IED essentially “explode” into a rage despite a lack of apparent provocation or reason.
The disorder is currently categorized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) under the "Disruptive, Impulse-Control, and Conduct Disorders" category. The disorder itself is not easily characterized and often exhibits comorbidity with other mood disorders, particularly bipolar disorder.
The DSM-5 defines intermittent explosive disorder as “recurrent behavioral outbursts representing a failure to control aggressive impulses.” (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).
Intermittent explosive disorder (IED), as operationalized in DSM-IV, is characterized by recurrent episodes of serious assaultive acts that are out of proportion to psychosocial stressors and that are not better accounted for either by another mental disorder or by the physiological effects of a substance with ...
Intermittent explosive disorder (IED) is a mental health condition marked by frequent impulsive anger outbursts or aggression. The episodes are out of proportion to the situation that triggered them and cause significant distress.
You'll be diagnosed with IED if you experience one of the following: verbal or physical aggression toward things, animals, or other people, twice a week (on average), within 3 months, which doesn't cause physical damage or injury. three aggressive outbursts that cause damage or injury, within 12 months.
There is a specific disability listing for all personality disorders in the "blue book" that covers borderline personality disorder (as well as schizotypal personality disorder, avoidant personality disorder, schizoid personality disorder, intermittent explosive disorder, and others).
Depending upon how broadly it's defined, intermittent explosive disorder (IED) affects as many as 7.3 percent of adults — 11.5-16 million Americans — in their lifetimes.
In the clinical research sample ADHD was the most prevalent comorbid diagnosis with IED followed by ODD and CD; the odds ratios for these comparison did not differ from each other and did not differ from the community sample.
If you suspect that you have IED, make an appointment with a doctor or other mental health professional. If you feel you might harm yourself or someone else, call 911 immediately.