Intermittent Explosive Disorder - Diagnosis

Diagnosis

The DSM-IV criteria for IED include:the occurrence of discrete episodes of failure to resist aggressive impulses that result in violent assault or destruction of property, the degree of aggressiveness expressed during an episode is grossly disproportionate to provocation or precipitating psychosocial stressor, and, as previously stated, diagnosis is made when other mental disorders that may cause violent outbursts (e.g., antisocial personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, etc.) have been ruled out. Furthermore, the acts of aggression must not be due to a general medical condition, e.g., a head injury, Alzheimer’s disease, etc., or due to substance abuse or medication. Diagnosis is made using a psychiatric interview to affective and behavioral symptoms to the criteria listed in the DSM-IV. The DSM IV-TR is very specific in its definition of Intermittent Explosive Disorder which is defined, essentially, by exclusion of other conditions. The diagnosis requires:

1. several episodes of impulsive behavior that result in serious damage to either persons or property, wherein
2. the degree of the aggressiveness is grossly disproportionate to the circumstances or provocation, and
3. the episodic violence cannot be better accounted for by another mental or physical medical condition.