[Self-Test] Could Your Teen Have Intermittent Explosive Disorder?

Has your teen injured or assaulted an animal purposely?

Does your teen have a history of verbally abusing caregivers and siblings? For example, does he bully younger siblings or yell at them if they do anything he perceives as a slight? Does he scream at his parents when they give him a directive he doesn’t like?

Has your teen caused physical injury to other people — siblings, parents, other relatives, peers, or people he or she does not know? The injury may be mild, such as falling after being pushed or shoved, or more serious, such as from a punch or a weapon.

Has your teen acted in self-harming ways, such as cutting himself or herself, expressing suicidal thoughts, or even attempting suicide?

Has your teen described a feeling of pressure that builds up in his or her chest and head prior to having an explosive episode? They may have a headache, palpitations, a tingling feeling, or tremors during the time when the pressure is building, during the episode, or shortly after. They may have racing thoughts and the feeling that they cannot control their thoughts.

Has your teen had run-ins with the law? These may be minor, such as citations for vandalism or loitering, more serious infractions that brought with them the financial burden of retribution, fines, lawyers and court costs.

When your teen is frustrated or angry, does it often lead to violent behavior? For example, does it seem he or she is unable to control their emotions and may lash out by yelling, swearing, hitting, pushing, kicking, or breaking objects without any regard to property?

Does your teen struggle to maintain friendships because his or her peers find them bossy and inflexible? Do peers prefer to not deal with their episodes of anger and avoid spending time with them?

Does everyone in the household “walk on eggshells” in an effort to keep your teen calm and not trigger his or her anger?

When your teen becomes angry, does his or her reaction seem disproportionate to the situation? For example, if someone cuts in front of them, do they become enraged and push or shove the person out of line?

Do any of your teen’s biological relatives have a history of anger issues like frequently “flying into a rage” for no reason or verbally/physically abusing others, even if no diagnosis of Intermittent Explosive Disorder was ever made?

When your teen has an explosive episode, does it typically last 30 minutes or fewer? Does she exhibit short episodes that begin with a build-up of tension, followed by an angry explosion, and then a feeling relief because it is over? Is she fatigued after such an episode?

Does your teen exhibit anger, but not violent outbursts? These episodes may include verbal aggression such as heated arguments, extremely contrary behavior, temper tantrums or verbal bullying without physical harm or destruction of property.

Has your teen exhibited violent outbursts at least three times in the past year? These episodes may include injury to himself or another person, harm to an animal, or destruction of property.

Does your teen become easily frustrated? When faced with a difficult task, such as a difficult homework assignment, does he or she become frustrated and then aggressive or angry? Do they become upset and frustrated when things do not go their way?