Disruptive Mood Of Disorder ( Dsm ) V For Combat Possible...

Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD) is a diagnosis created for the Diagnostic Standards Manual (DSM) V to combat possible overdiagnosis of childhood Bipolar Disorder. Incidence of childhood Bipolar Disorder diagnosis has increased significantly in recent decades (Margulies, Weintraub, Basile, Grover, and Carlson, 2012). The DSM IV included a category called â€Å"Bipolar Disorder Not Otherwise Specified†, which may have been applied to children that would now be better classified with Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder. These children have significant impairments related to their mood regulation especially related to irritability that is not fully explained by bipolar criteria. Doctors may have diagnosed children inappropriately†¦show more content†¦The proponents for DMDD claim that it is helpful to reduce overdiagnosis of childhood Bipolar Disorder and will help children with extreme mood outbursts get the clinical assistance and care they need. The diagnosis of DMDD is housed under the Depressive Disorders section of the new DSM V (American Psychological Association, 2013). In order to qualify for a diagnosis of DMDD, the child must experience extreme temper outbursts that are grossly out of proportion to the triggering event. The outbursts must be out of character for their current age, and occur three or more times a week. The child must also experience observable chronic irritability every day, in between temper outbursts. This criteria must hold true for at least twelve months and the child must not go more than three months without experiencing these symptoms. In addition, the temper outbursts and chronic irritability has to be manifested in at least two environments and are severe for at least one. The diagnosis cannot be made before the child is 6 or after age 18, and the age of onset must occur before 10 years old. The child cannot have had a manic or hypomanic episode for more than a day, and the behavior cannot t ake place during a major depressive episode or be explained by certain other disorders. The behavior should not be attributed to any physiological or medical conditions, or be substance induced. DMDD also cannot occur with the