Intermittent Explosive Disorder - Know Symptoms Of It!

Do you or someone you know lash out in aggressive verbal and violent behaviour at the slightest provocation? This could be a symptom of a behavioural disorder called Intermittent Explosive Disorder or IED. Intermittent Explosive Disorder is characterized by repeated, sudden bursts of anger which are disproportionate to the situation. These outbursts also have no discernable reason behind them. These outbursts can have a negative impact on your relationships, work, and finances. If left untreated, this chronic condition can continue for years.

The exact cause for IED is unknown, but research shows that a number of Psychological and biological factors play an important role in triggering such behaviour. Genes may also play a role in triggering this behaviour as such aggressive behaviour is found to run in families. Children and teenagers are most commonly affected by this condition. Children who have been exposed to violent behaviour in their early childhood years are more likely to exhibit such behaviour as they grow older.

There are various symptoms exhibited by the people suffering from other psychological disorders such as bipolar disorder, ADHD or antisocial personality disorder; some of the symptoms to look out for are:

1. Bursts of anger that last 30 minutes or less

2. Chronic irritability

3. Racing thoughts

4. Tightness of the chest

5. Tremors and tingling sensation

6. Physical aggression

People suffering from this condition often feel relief or fatigue after such an episode. However, later they are filled with feelings of guilt and embarrassment. If such episodes occur repeatedly, it is best to consult a Clinical Psychologist. By conducting a thorough evaluation the Psychologist will be able to diagnose your condition and treat you accordingly.

There is no one set course of treatment that applies to all cases of this condition. Psychological treatment is the primary treatment of choice as IED is intricately related to maladaptive habit formation and lack of impulse control. Individualized psychological treatment imparted by a Clinical Psychology Doctor through a Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) framework is the usual mode of approach. In a few cases where impulsivity or mood variation is found to be linked to physical aspects, appropriate referrals are made to a general physician or other specialists.

Psychotherapy aims to ascertain the combination of unique personality variables of the individual as well as the situations that trigger such behavior and trains the client in anger management through a psychological technique called Reciprocal Inhibition (RI).

It may involve the use of psychological technologies like Systematic Desensitization (SD), Exposure Response Prevention (ERP) and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Behavior Treatment (MB-CBT). Dialectic Behavior Therapy (DBT) is imparted for IED with comorbidity of Impulsive Personality Disorder (IPD) and especially suicidal tendencies. Practicing relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, yoga and counseling are also recommended at times as a part of lifestyle management to support Psychological Treatment (PT).