“Impulsive aggressive behavior is the result of a multi-determined set of social, genetic, biological, and psychological factors” (Coccaro et al.,2015).
Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED), is described as an anger disorder characterized by a lack of impulse control, recurrent violence and excessive behavior driven by anger or rage. Another name for IED is Behavioural Defiance. Studies say that it’s one of the most difficult behaviors to alter. People suffering from IED describe it as feeling like they have lost control of their emotions and become overcome with anger. Many psychiatric disorders are associated with IED. Post- traumatic stress disorder, alcohol addiction, and borderline personality disorder are just a few. There are many treatments in place to work on reducing the impulse of being overcome with anger.
The very first time IED was mentioned, according to The American Journal of Psychiatry, was in the first edition of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (D.S.M.) created in 1952. IED was originally called “a disorder of impulsive aggression”. Diagnoses for it became “passive-aggressive personality, aggressive type”. The second edition of D.S.M. in 1968 the definition of the disorder became “patients with an explosive personality”. People with this disorder were characterized as “aggressive individuals” who displayed violent behaviors and were overresponsive to environmental pressures with gross outbursts of rage, or of verbal and physical aggressiveness different from their usual behavior. Only in D.S.M. III created in the 1980s did the term “intermittent explosive disorder” become officially codified and defined as a clinical disorder. It is believed that children who grew up in a home where they were given harsh punishments such as physical or verbal abuse would develop the symptoms of IED because they are following the examples of the violent behaviors set by their parents (Coccaro, E. F. 2015). In another study, researchers found that experiencing traumatic events or maltreatment could be the catalyst for the disorder in adulthood. Studies say that signs for IED may show up in childhood, the duration can last from up to 10 years to a lifetime . hgjvjgjhkhj
IED episodes are recurrent and usually result in verbal or physical assault, or destruction of property. Most studies identify a typical episode as beginning with some sort of conflict or difficulty, for example a small argument which could be considered a trigger. The diagnosed person would then seem to “overreact” to the situation and the argument could escalate to the point of a physical aggression, yelling in public places or destruction of public property. Some people diagnosed with IED say that after the release they feel good but a few minutes after, they may feel remorseful or ashamed. These outbursts happen around two times a week for at least 3 months to be fully diagnosed as IED. Most patients fail to resist the impulse, drive or temptation of “exploding” and could be harmful to themselves or the people around them. Some patients don’t even take responsibility for their actions and blames the victims of the explosion or the situation they were put in. Trigger situations for IED patients may involve frequent traffic accidents (car accident), moving violations (being cut off on the highway, road rage etc.) and may result in sexual impulsivity (not being able to control personal impulses during sex).
IED patients are also known to have an extreme sensitivity to alcohol and drugs. These stimulants could further impair the brains ability to resist impulses. Alcohol and substances are very dangerous for a person with IED. Someone already diagnosed with IED may turn to alcohol because alcohol has a calming and relaxing affect, when in fact alcohol may make depressed feelings more intensified than what it would be without the depressant. People with IED already have increased energy, mixing stimulants and IED could potentially lead to a very dangerous situation. IED episodes are already dangerous, include substance abuse into the mix could prolong the episode or make an episode even more violent.