Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD) is a mental disorder that primarily affects children and adolescents. It is characterized by a persistently irritable or angry mood and frequent temper outbursts that are disproportionate to the situation and significantly more severe than the typical reaction of same-aged peers. The symptoms of DMDD go beyond a "bad mood" and can cause significant problems at home, school, and in social interactions.
Some key points about DMDD include:
- DMDD was added to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) in 2013 as a type of depressive disorder diagnosis for youths.
- The symptoms of DMDD resemble those of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), anxiety disorders, and childhood bipolar disorder.
- DMDD usually appears before the age of 10, and its effects peak between the ages of 10 and 29.
- Treatment for DMDD is often based on what has been helpful for other disorders associated with irritability, such as ADHD, ODD, and anxiety disorders.
