Intermittent explosive disorder Intermittent explosive disorder (IED) is a mental disturbance that is characterized by specific episodes of violent and aggressive behavior that may involve harm to others or destruction of property. IED is discussed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders , fourth edition (DSM-IV) under the heading of Impulse-Control Disorders Not Elsewhere Classified. As such, it is grouped together with kleptomania, pyromania, and pathological gambling. Causes and symptoms Causes As with other impulse-control disorders, the cause of IED has not been determined. As of 2004, researchers disagreed as to whether it is learned behavior, the result of biochemical or neurological abnormalities, or a combination of factors. Some scientists have reported abnormally low levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that affects mood, in the cerebrospinal fluid of some angerprone persons, but the relationship of this finding to IED is not clear. Similarly, some individuals diagnosed with IED have a medical history that includes migraine headaches, seizures, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, or developmental problems of various types, but it is not clear that these cause IED, as most persons with migraines, learning problems, or other neurological disorders do not develop IED. Symptoms Some psychiatrists who take a cognitive approach to mental disorders believe that IED results from rigid beliefs and a tendency to misinterpret other peoples behavior in accordance with these beliefs. According to Aaron Beck, a pioneer in the application of cognitive therapy to violence-prone individuals, most people diagnosed with IED believe that other people are basically hostile and untrustworthy, that physical force is the only way to obtain respect from others, and that life in general is a battlefield. Beck also identifies certain characteristic errors in thinking that go along with these beliefs: Personalizing: The person interprets others behavior as directed specifically against him. Selective perception: The person notices only those features of situations or interactions that fit his negative view of the world rather than taking in all available information. Misinterpreting the motives of others: The person tends to see neutral or even friendly behavior as either malicious or manipulative. Denial: The person blames others for provoking his violence while denying or minimizing his own role in the fight or other outburst.
Posted on: Mon, 21 Jul 2014 09:35:36 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015