Mental Health of Children

Question 1

Intermittent Explosive Disorder

Answer 1

A. Recurrent behavioral outbursts representing a failure to control aggressive impulses as manifested by either of the following:

• 1. Verbal aggression or physical aggression toward property, animals, or other individuals, occurring twice weekly, on average for a period of 3 months. The physical aggression does not result in damage or destruction of property and does not result in physical injury to animals or other individuals
• 2. Three behavioral outbursts involving damage or destruction of property and/or physical assault involving physical injury against animals or other individuals occurring within a 12-month period

B. The magnitude of aggressiveness expressed during the recurrent outbursts is grossly out of proportion to the provocation or to any precipitating psychosocial stressors.

C. The recurrent aggressive outbursts are not premeditated and are not committed to achieving some tangible objective

D. The recurrent aggressive outbursts cause either marked distress in the individual or impairment in occupational or interpersonal functioning or associated with financial or legal consequences

E. Chronological age is at least 6 years

F. The recurrent aggressive outbursts are not better explained by another mental disorder and not attributable to another medical condition or to the physiological effects of a substance. For children, 6 - 18 years, aggressive behavior that occurs as part of an adjustment disorder should not be considered for this diagnosis.