Children with intermittent explosive disorder may become violent and destructive

By Staff Writer

Parents in the U.S. are starting to express concern about a behavior problem among children called intermittent explosive disorder (IED).

According to the Naples Daily News, IED is a diagnosed ailment in which troubled teenagers lash out in abrupt and sometimes violent outbursts. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders classifies IED as an impulse-control disorder, also known under the terms "rage attacks" or "anger attacks," the news provider reported.

A licensed social worker told the media outlet that IED is often times confused with conduct disorders and oppositional defiant disorder, but there are major differences. IED, unlike other behavior problems, is associated with anger, so those who are afflicted with it usually are impulsively violent and destroy property.

The Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders cites findings that suggest IED may result from abnormalities in the brain on both sides, which appear to be involved in information processing and controlling movement, according to the news provider. Doctors have also determined that IED and other impulse control disorders may be more common among children of people who have an IED.

Parents who have children that suffer from impulse control disorders may consider enrolling their kids in alternative boot camps, which can help troubled teens adopt and develop more discipline and self-control.