What is HDDD (Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder)?

By: Dr. Hélio Fádel - Psychiatrist Diagnostic features: The central feature of Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (HDDD) is severe chronic irritability. The diagnosis is disregarded before 6 years of age or after 18 years of age. This irritability has two prominent clinical manifestations, the first being frequent outbursts of anger. Typically, these outbursts occur in response to frustration and can be verbal or behavioral (in the form of aggression toward property, self, or others). The second manifestation of severe irritability is a persistently irritable or angry mood present between outbursts of anger. This mood should be characteristic of the child, being present for most of the day. Prevalence and development: It is a common disorder among children presenting to pediatric mental health clinics. Based on rates of chronic and severe persistent irritability, which is the hallmark of the disorder, the overall 6-month to 1-year prevalence of disruptive mood dysregulation disorder among children and adolescents is within a range of 2 to 5%. However, higher rates are expected in male and school-aged children. The onset of ADHD is before 10 years of age, not considering the diagnosis in children under 6 years of age. Approximately half of children with severe chronic irritability will have a presentation that continues to meet criteria for the condition one year later. ADHD is more common than bipolar disorder before adolescence. And the symptoms of the condition often become less common as children move into adulthood. Main bibliographic reference: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders - DSM 5 American Psychiatric Association https://heliofadel.com.br/transtorno-disruptivo-da-desregulacao-do-humor/