Many people are unfamiliar with IED. However, one study found around 7% of the U.S. population may have the disorder.
Read on to learn more about IED and how the disorder affects those who have it.
What Are the Symptoms of IED?
IED is similar to a temper tantrum, and when a person has the disorder, they may experience the following symptoms:
Rage Irritability Feeling high levels of tension High energy levels Tremors (involuntary rhythmic shaking) Heart palpitations (a pounding, fluttering, or irregular heartbeat that is highly noticeable for a short period of time) Tightness in the chest Argumentative behaviors and shouting Getting into verbal or physical altercations Threatening other people Physically assaulting animals or people Damaging their own or someone else’s property
The attacks may seem to come out of nowhere and are deemed as out-of-proportion reactions to the situation.
What Causes IED?
Although the exact cause of IED is unknown, experts believe that a combination of factors can cause a person to develop the disorder at some point in their life. Research has found that one of the strongest contributors to the onset of IED is being exposed to trauma during childhood.
Childhood is an important time in a person’s life when it comes to brain development. Children that go through traumatic experiences often have delayed or altered brain development. This means they may not adequately learn the skills needed to manage emotions such as anger or rage.
Although childhood trauma is thought to be the main driver in the development of IED, other research has found that genetics and abnormalities in the brain can also contribute.
For example, one study found an association of inflammatory responses in the brain with aggressive behavior in IED by analyzing different areas of DNA. The study found that people with IED had differences in those areas than those who did not. These differences in genes may affect IED risk.
Research has also found that people with IED have abnormalities in serotonin levels in the brain. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter (chemical messenger in the brain) that’s associated with feelings of well-being. It also plays a role in stabilizing mood.
How Is IED Diagnosed?
IED is diagnosed using the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5). The DSM-5 outlines certain criteria that need to be met for a person to be diagnosed with any given mental disorder. The criteria in the DSM-5 for IED includes recurrent behavioral outbursts of:
Verbal aggression or physical aggression that occurs twice per week for a period of three monthsAggressive behavioral outbursts that involve physical damage or injury to property, another person, or an animal and occurs three times in a 12-month periodAnger that is grossly out of proportion to the stressorOutbursts that are impulsive and unplannedThere is no goal associated with the behavior such as financial gain or emotional intimidation
The DSM-5 also indicates that a person must be over the age of 6, without any other mental health disorders, to be diagnosed with IED. The episodes also cause marked distress in the individual or are associated with the person suffering financial or legal consequences because of the outbursts.
If a person meets these criteria, their doctor will determine whether to make an official diagnosis of IED.
How Is IED Treated?
According to the American Psychiatric Association, treating IED typically involves cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT is a type of psychotherapy, or talk therapy, that focuses on changing thoughts related to anger and aggression. It is based on the notion that all thoughts, feelings, actions, and physical sensations are connected and can be addressed as a whole.
CBT can be done in groups or solo, however, research has shown that people with IED who participate in group CBT therapy can better manage their anger and learn new coping skills to deal with the symptoms of their disorder in a group setting.
There are no specific medications to treat IED, but some people with the disorder have benefited from the use of antidepressants that impact levels of serotonin in the brain, mood stabilizers to help quell overreactions, antipsychotics, and antianxiety medications.
How Can You Cope With IED?
Coping with IED can be difficult because a person with the disorder doesn’t have control over their angry outbursts. What’s worse is that in many cases, a person is also dealing with unresolved trauma from childhood.
To help cope with the symptoms of IED, people with the disorder need to seek out professional treatment from a mental health professional and stick to their treatment plan.
Practicing relaxation techniques or other activities that can help a person gain control of their emotions could also be beneficial for someone with IED. Some good examples of activities you can do to cope with your disorder include:
MeditationYogaBreathing exercisesAvoiding triggers, people, or situations that may cause you to get angryNot using drugs or alcohol
Summary
IED is a mental health illness that is characterized by repeated outbursts of anger, rage, and aggression for seemingly no reason. The disorder may affect around 7% of adolescents and adults. While IED can negatively impact a person’s life and overall health, there are treatment options that can help a person cope and manage their disorder.
CBT and, in some cases, medication have shown to be effective at managing symptoms and decreasing violent or aggressive outbursts.
A Word From Verywell
Having IED is difficult to cope with and many people may not even realize that they have the disorder until long after it develops. Because of the way you may act with IED, people in your life may avoid you or feel as though you are just an angry person because of the disorder.
That is why you should always seek treatment if you happen to have over-the-top and aggressive reactions in situations that do not warrant it. It can’t be easy dealing with IED, but with the right treatment, you can manage your disorder and improve your overall quality of life.
Following your angry outburst, you feel tired, guilty, or embarrassed of your behavior. You are often triggered by the same types of situations such as being corrected in public or being told what to do. You physically harm others, yourself, or property during your anger episodes. You can’t think clearly or about any consequences during the episode. You feel as though you have no control over your behavior once you begin having an episode. Your anger affects personal and professional relationships often.
