Research suggests that "there may also be a genetic component causing this disorder to be passed down from parents to children" (Psychology Today, 2014). It is possible that hormones, brain chemicals, trauma, and seizures may also influence development. Some patients with IED were exposed to or experienced trauma, aggression, physical and verbal abuse. The impulsive behaviors exhibited by the patient are persistent within a twelve month period and are not premeditated or committed to achieve some tangible objective (American Psychological Association, 2013). The explosive behavior causes clinically significant impairment in social, educational, and occupational functioning.
Intermittent Explosive Disorder and Adolescent Development.
The onset of Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED) is prevalent in late childhood or adolescence and commonly diagnosed in males. The DSM-5 states that children as young as 6 years old may be diagnosed with IED (American Psychological Association, 2013). Research suggests that symptoms of IED typically begin in early childhood, with "average duration from 12 years of age to an adult's complete lifetime"" (Coccaro, Schmidt & Samuels, 2004). Adolescence brings about many physical, emotional, and social changes. Boys will begin puberty, experience voice changes, exhibit moody behavior, be preoccupied by appearance, be influenced by peers to try risky behaviors, and challenge family rules and values. Manning (1993) stated that "most young adolescents function in a transitory stage between Piaget's concrete operational and formal operational stages"" (p. 28). This is where adolescents begin to expand their logical thinking. Patients diagnosed with IED have limited ability to think in a logical way during their explosive behaviors and lead to the inability to think in concrete terms to solve problems. Although adolescent development relates to behavioral changes, the symptoms of IED are not correlated with what would be considered normal behavior for adolescents.
