Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffExplosive eruptions, usually lasting 10 to 20 minutes, often result in injuries and the deliberate destruction of property. These episodes may occur in clusters or be separated by weeks or months of nonaggression.
Aggressive episodes may be preceded or accompanied by:
- Irritability
- Increased energy
- Rage
- Tingling
- Tremors
- Palpitations
- Chest tightness
- Headache or a feeling of pressure in the head
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- McCloskey MS, et al. Prevalence of suicidal and self-injurious behavior among subjects with intermittent explosive disorder. Psychiatry Research. 2008;158:248.
- Koelsch S, et al. EEG correlates of moderate intermittent explosive disorder. Clinical Neurophysiology. 2008;119:151.
- Hall-Flavin DK (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. March 9, 2010.

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