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Raising
Special Kids is Changing to My Special Kids
Raising Special Kids site is coming down soon - by the end of the month, but don't worry, I am putting together a brand new site from Raising Special Kids - and because that brand is already in use by www.raisingspecialkids.org, I am changing my site to www.my-special-kids.com. I will have the index page up and will rewrite and post the pages as I go along, updating and adding new information and experiences. Stay tuned Intermittent Explosive DisorderEveryone loses their temper now and again, so what makes it Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED)? When it becomes a repeated series of aggressive and violent behavior that is totally out of proportion with what is going on, and especially out of character for the person. The person with IED can act without realizing or being able to control the attack on other people or their property and are embarrassed and regretful later when they realize what has happened. These violent outbursts, sometimes called explosive eruptions, will sometimes happen in clusters around a short period of time, or the person can go for long periods of time (weeks, months) in between episodes of violence. An outburst can last anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes and someone will usually get hurt or something broken within that time. Preceding
Symptoms According to the Mayo Clinic, there are symptoms which can happen before an outburst or even happen along with the explosive eruption. Things to look for are:
How
Common is
Intermittent Explosive Disorder? A study conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) places the number of Americans affected by Intermittent Explosive Disorder (depending on either a strict or loosely defined diagnostic criteria) to be approximately 7.3% of American adults., or between 12 and 16 million. This disorder will usually start to become noticeable in the early teen years, and unless it is correctly diagnosed and treated, the young teen may end up in trouble at school and with the law very quickly. Following Intermittent Explosive Disorder episodes, the teen may be dealing with depression and substance abuse and guilt, be sure to watch for suicide indicators. Research (NIMH) also indicates that about 80% of people affected by IED, do eventually reach the clinical criteria for depression, anxiety and substance abuse, although less than half of them will seek professional treatment. Treatment Most patients are treated with a combination of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and medication. Therapy sessions focus on identifying the warning signs of the impulses and developing coping mechanisms to try to control them or to find alternative safe outlets. Drugs that are commonly prescribed for intermittent explosive disorder include:
What
to Do If You
Think Your Child Has IED Seek professional help immediately. Make an appointment to see your primary care physician (PCP) and discuss your observations and suspicions. Your doctor can help you to know what to do next and can make referrals to a psychiatrist or other specialist if needed, or may ask you to observe the situation a while longer to get more information. It is important that you get help right away because IED, if not treated and the correct supports put in place, can get your child removed from school and in trouble with the law very quickly.
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