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Although experiencing anger and difficulty managing anger can occur in a number of mental health disorders, there is only one disorder in theDiagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition(DSM-5) that directly focuses onanger— Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED).
Overview
IED is a mental health disorder that first appears in childhood or adolescence and is made up of the following symptoms:
One recent study suggest that anywhere between 3% to 7% of the general population may develop IED at some point in their lifetime. IED has also been found to occur early in a person’s life, generally during adolescence. It also usually occurs along with other mental health disorders and, as one might expect, can interfere greatly with a person’s life.
Mental Health Diagnosis: Symptoms, Types, and Treatments
The Cause of IED
Given that IED can seriously interfere with relationships and negatively affect the quality of a person’s life, mental health researchers have attempted to identify the cause of this disorder. One area that a number of researchers have focused on is experiencing traumatic events, particularly those that occur in childhood.
For example, one study of a large group of people from the general population across the United States looked at the relationship between exposure tochildhood traumaand IED.They found that just having experienced any childhood trauma was found to be one of the strongest contributors to developing IED in adulthood.
Childhood trauma itself was a better predictor of IED than the severity of the traumatic exposure and havingpost-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD).
In addition, the study found that experiencing interpersonal childhood trauma, for example, sexual abuse, was particularly associated with developing IED.
The Connection Between Childhood Trauma and IED
Childhood is obviously a very important time in our development. It’s when we learn about interpersonal relationships and how to effectively manage our emotions. Childhood trauma can greatly disrupt this experience, and as a result, people may not adequately learn how to manage their emotions or negotiate interpersonal relationships.
Consequently, when anger occurs, people with a history of childhood trauma may not know how to effectively control those emotions, resulting in strong anger impulses and destructive behaviors.
That said, it is important to remember that this is all based on just a few studies. There is research supporting genetic influences as well as having found neurobiological abnormalities in individuals with intermittent explosive disorder.
Getting Help for IED and Childhood Trauma
Although there currently are not any treatments specifically designed for IED, there are treatments available that focus on improving the ability to manage emotions.
Dialectical behavior therapy(DBT) in particular has been found to be very effective in teaching people healthy ways ofmanaging their emotionsand reducing destructive behavior.
In addition, there are treatments specifically designed for children exposed to traumatic experiences, such astrauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy(TF-CBT). TF-CBT recognizes that childhood trauma can interfere with healthy emotional and interpersonal development, and as a result, is focused on helping children gain a better understanding of their emotions and healthy relationships.
TF-CBT may help children develop healthy emotion regulation skills that prevent them from developing IED.
Reparenting in Therapy
Tofind a therapistwho provides TF-CBT, you should first look for someone who specializes and has experience treating children with trauma. You may be able tofind such a therapistthrough websites that are designed to connect you with treatment providers in your area.
In addition to providing resources for families who have a child that is dealing with the consequences of trauma, theSidran Institutealso provides information on therapists who may specialize in treating children who have been exposed to a traumatic event.
Finally, it may be useful to speak with apsychiatristabout certain medications that are useful in controlling impulses associated with IED.
Press Play for Advice On Dealing With Childhood Trauma
6 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Kessler RC, Coccaro EF, Fava M, Jaeger S, Jin R, Walters E.The prevalence and correlates of DSM-IV intermittent explosive disorder in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication.Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2006;63(6):669-678. doi:10.1001/archpsyc.63.6.669Kulper DA, Kleiman EM, McCloskey MS, Berman ME, Coccaro EF.The experience of aggressive outbursts in Intermittent Explosive Disorder.Psychiatry Res. 2015;225(3):710-715. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2014.11.008Coccaro EF, Fanning JR, Keedy SK, Lee RJ.Social cognition in Intermittent Explosive Disorder and aggression.J Psychiatr Res. 2016;83:140-150. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2016.07.010Nickerson A, Aderka IM, Bryant RA, Hofmann SG.The relationship between childhood exposure to trauma and intermittent explosive disorder.Psychiatry Res.2012;197(1-2):128-34. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2012.01.012Consequences of Child Abuse and Neglect. In: Petersen AC, Joseph J, Feit M, editors.New Directions in Child Abuse and Neglect Research. Washington, DC: National Academies Press (US); 2014.Chapman AL.Dialectical behavior therapy: current indications and unique elements.Psychiatry (Edgmont). 2006;3(9):62-68.
Kessler RC, Coccaro EF, Fava M, Jaeger S, Jin R, Walters E.The prevalence and correlates of DSM-IV intermittent explosive disorder in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication.Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2006;63(6):669-678. doi:10.1001/archpsyc.63.6.669
Kulper DA, Kleiman EM, McCloskey MS, Berman ME, Coccaro EF.The experience of aggressive outbursts in Intermittent Explosive Disorder.Psychiatry Res. 2015;225(3):710-715. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2014.11.008
Coccaro EF, Fanning JR, Keedy SK, Lee RJ.Social cognition in Intermittent Explosive Disorder and aggression.J Psychiatr Res. 2016;83:140-150. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2016.07.010
Nickerson A, Aderka IM, Bryant RA, Hofmann SG.The relationship between childhood exposure to trauma and intermittent explosive disorder.Psychiatry Res.2012;197(1-2):128-34. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2012.01.012
Consequences of Child Abuse and Neglect. In: Petersen AC, Joseph J, Feit M, editors.New Directions in Child Abuse and Neglect Research. Washington, DC: National Academies Press (US); 2014.
Chapman AL.Dialectical behavior therapy: current indications and unique elements.Psychiatry (Edgmont). 2006;3(9):62-68.
Highlights of Changes DSM-IV-TR to DSM-5. American Psychiatric Association (2013).
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