Intermittent explosive disorder

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Complications

By Mayo Clinic staff

The violent behavior that's part of intermittent explosive disorder is not always directed at others. People with this condition are also at significantly increased risk of harming themselves, either with intentional injuries or suicide attempts.

Those who are also addicted to drugs or had another serious mental disorder, such as depression, are at the greatest risk of harming themselves.

People with intermittent explosive disorder are often perceived by others as always being angry. Other complications of intermittent explosive disorder may include job loss, school suspension, divorce, auto accidents or incarceration.

References
  1. Thompson JW Jr, et al. Impulse-control disorders. In: Ebert MH, et al. Current Diagnosis and Treatment: Psychiatry. 2nd ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Medical; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=3289149. Accessed March 6, 2010.
  2. Intermittent explosive disorder. In: Sadock BJ, et al. Kaplan and Sadock's Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry. Philadelphia, Pa.: Lippincott, Williams and Wilkins; 2005. http://ovidsp.tx.ovid.com/sp-2.3/ovidweb.cgi?&S=LIGLFPOGPNDDKGHDNCELCBCKMEKJAA00&Link+Set=S.sh.16%7c5%7csl_10. Accessed March 8, 2010.
  3. Kessler RC. The prevalence and correlates of DSM-IV intermittent explosive disorder in the national comorbidity survey replication. Archives of General Psychiatry. 2006:63;669.
  4. Intermittent explosive disorder. In: Stern TA, et al. Massachusetts General Hospital Comprehensive Clinical Psychiatry. 1st ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/187865115-2/0/1657/221.html?tocnode=57542767&fromURL=221.html#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-04743-2..50025-1--cesec2_542. Accessed March 6, 2010.
  5. Kessler RC, et al. Intermittent explosive disorder is common, has an early age of onset and is associated with the development of other mental disorders in the US population. Evidence Based Mental Health. 2007;10:32.
  6. McCloskey MS, et al. Prevalence of suicidal and self-injurious behavior among subjects with intermittent explosive disorder. Psychiatry Research. 2008;158:248.
  7. Koelsch S, et al. EEG correlates of moderate intermittent explosive disorder. Clinical Neurophysiology. 2008;119:151.
  8. Hall-Flavin DK (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 9, 2010.
DS00730 June 10, 2010

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