Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder and its effect on bipolar disorder

BACKGROUND: In the last few decades, a noticeable increase in the diag­nosis of bipolar disorder (BD) in youth has raised concerns, particularly because of a consequent increase in the use of psychotropic medications with adverse side effects. After observing the development of those youth into adulthood, clinicians and researchers have questioned the notion of expanding the diagnostic boundaries of BD to encapsulate these youth.

METHODS: Our research is aimed at gleaning further information on dis­ruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD) and to observe whether its introduction has affected the rates of BD in children and adolescents. In a retrospective study, we calculated the frequencies of patients with BD admitted to a pediatric psychiatric hospital both before and after the intro­duction of DSM-5. We also observed age, sex, comorbid disorders, and management of DMDD.

RESULTS: We found a decrease in the diagnosis of BD with the introduc­tion of DMDD in DSM-5, without much change in treatment interventions utilized.

CONCLUSIONS: Research on DMDD is limited so far. Further studies are needed to put together evidence-based guidelines and practice param­eters for its management.  

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