Intermittent explosive disorder (IED) is an impulse-control disorder characterized by sudden episodes of unwarranted anger. The disorder is typified by ...Signs&SymptomsofIntermittentExplosiveDisorderUnderstandingIntermittentExplosiveDisorderLearnAbout IntermittentExplosiveDisorderIntermittentexplosivedisorder(IED)isanimpulse-controldisordercharacterizedbysuddenepisodesofunwarrantedanger.Thedisorderistypifiedbyhostility,impulsivity,andrecurrentaggressiveoutbursts.PeoplewithIEDessentially“explode”intoaragedespitealackofapparentprovocationorreason.Individualssufferingfromintermittentexplosivedisorderhavedescribedfeelingasthoughtheylosecontroloftheiremotionsandbecomeovercomewithanger.PeoplewithIEDmaythreatentooractuallyattackobjects,animals,and/orotherhumans.IEDissaidtotypicallybeginduringtheearlyteenyearsandevidencehassuggestedthatithasthepotentialofpredisposingindividualstodepression,anxiety,andsubstanceabusedisorders.Intermittentexplosivedisorderisnotdiagnosedunlessapersonhasdisplayedatleastthreeepisodesofimpulsiveaggressiveness.IndividualswithIEDhavereportedthatoncetheyhavereleasedthetensionthatbuiltupasaresultoftheirrage,theyfeelasenseofrelief.Oncethereliefwearsoff,however,somepeoplereportexperiencingfeelingsofremorseorembarrassment.WhileIEDcanbeextremelydisruptivetoanindividual’slife,aswellastothelivesofthosearoundhimorher, IEDcanbemanagedthroughpropertreatment,througheducationaboutangermanagement,andpossiblythroughtheuseofmedication.StatisticsIntermittentExplosiveDisorderStatisticsIntermittentexplosivedisorderissaidtoaffectaround7.3%ofadultsatsomepointthroughouttheirlifetimes.Thisequatestoaround11.5-16millionAmericans.OftheindividualsintheU.S.whowerediagnosedwithIED,67.8%hadengagedindirectaggressionagainstanotherperson(s),20.9%hadthreatenedaggressionagainstanotherperson(s),and11.4%hadengagedindirectaggressionagainstobjects.CausesandRiskFactorsCausesandRiskFactorsfor IntermittentExplosiveDisorderThecauseofintermittentexplosivedisorderissaidtobeacombinationofmulti