Psychosocial Treatment of Irritability in Youth

Overview

Journal Curr Treat Options Psychiatry

Specialty Psychiatry

Date 2018 Oct 16

PMID 30319935

Citations 25

Authors

Katharina Kircanski

Michal E Clayton

Ellen Leibenluft

Melissa A Brotman

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose Of Review: Chronic, severe irritability is a common presenting problem in children and adolescents. Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD) was added to the DSM-5 in recognition of this public health need. Currently there are no well-established, evidence-based pharmacological or psychosocial treatments specifically for DMDD. Here, we focus on psychosocial interventions. In addition to reviewing published research, we present preliminary, open trial data on a novel exposure-based cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) targeting severe irritability, as is present in DMDD.

Recent Findings: In the published literature, parent management training (PMT) comprises parent-based interventions designed to treat youth disruptive behavior. Child-based interventions for disruptive behavior include CBT focused on social cognition and problem-solving. Based on identified treatment gaps for severe irritability in children and adolescents, novel psychosocial interventions are being developed. We have developed a CBT for severe irritability that integrates exposure techniques, drawn from anxiety treatment, with selected PMT techniques. Data from an open pilot trial (=10) suggest feasibility.

Summary: Promising psychosocial treatments are being developed for DMDD. Future directions include testing these new therapies against extant interventions. Increased research on the biological and psychological mechanisms mediating irritability will further bridge the treatment gap for youth and families.

Citing Articles

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Substance-involved child-to-parent violence.

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Phasic Versus Tonic Irritability and Associations with Family Accommodation Among Youth with Selective Mutism: A Latent Profile Analysis.

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A Delphi consensus among experts on assessment and treatment of disruptive mood dysregulation disorder.

Boudjerida A, Guile J, Breton J, Benarous X, Cohen D, Labelle R Front Psychiatry. 2024; 14:1166228.

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A network approach to the investigation of childhood irritability: probing frustration using social stimuli.

Thompson K, Schneider C, Lopez-Roque J, Wakschlag L, Karim H, Perlman S J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2023; 65(7):959-972.

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