Evaluating the Longevity of Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)

Evaluating the Longevity of Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD) In as much as irritability and temper are not considered common among young children, their intensity and chronicity beyond development norms can be challenging to parents, patients, as well as those working with children. Currently, according to a report by (Baweja, Mayes, Hameed, & Waxmonsky, 2016), severe irritability among the main reported reasons as to why children are put under psychological health services. The report also outlines some cases of behavioral and emotional dysregulation among the young people seeking mental health services. Symptoms of these disorders may manifest in several ways including limited attention hyperactivity and bipolar disorders and also the depressive disorder. Following the challenge - which was presented by these arrays of mental health problems- a new category of diagnosis was induced in the DSM-5, Disruption Mood Dysregulation Disorder DMDD. This was to help curb the reported rising cases of the disorders (Roy, Lopes, & Klein, 2014). Despite being controversial as pointed out by some media sources, clinicians and researchers, empirical research has found that DMDD has varied outcomes with regards to development, distinct etiology, and distinctions in neurobiology from oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), attentiondeficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and pediatric bipolar disorder (Roy, Lopes, & Klein, 2014). capstonewriting.com EVALUATING THE LONGEVITY OF DMDD 4 Background DMDD (Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder) is a condition among children often characterized by extreme anger, irritability and regular anger outbursts. However, its symptoms extend beyond sullenness to severe impairment often with the necessity for medical attention. As per the DSM-5 2013 manual, DMDD is a new condition with its first appearance in the Statistics manual in 2013 (Nimh.nih.gov, 2018). The vast amount of information on the condition come from studies regarding the severe mood dysregulation even though the limit of age placed on its onset differs between severe mood dysregulation (12 years), and DMDD, which is normally prevalent from ten years (Zepf & Holtmann, 2012). Certain studies have also scrutinized the solidity of DMDD with an increasing time span. The results of such studies have indicated higher stability in childhood than during teenage years. Previous study outcomes also demonstrated that over 80% of children who met the DMDD criteria when they were 9 years old also met similar criteria at the age of six (Mikita & Stringaris, 2013). By contrast, another study diagnosed cases with severe mood dysregulation and established that less than half of the total population sampled met the criteria during the follow up process. It was also important from previous studies that children who were diagnosed with DMDD, at the age of six, had higher risk of suffering from attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder by the time they celebrated their ninth birthday (Ryan, 2013). Such children also have high risk of disruptive behavior disorders. The status of DMDD in childhood also indicates subsequent problems in peer relationships