Childhood and parental characteristics of adults with DSM-5 intermittent explosive disorder compared with healthy and psychiatric controls

Background: Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED) is a disorder primarily of aggression, defined by recurrent behavioral outbursts out of proportion to provocations or stressors. IED first appears in childhood and adolescence. This study examines the underlying childhood environment of those with IED, particularly familial and school-related factors. Methods: Adult participants from a larger study completed diagnostic assessments and a battery of self-report measures. Group assignment was based on the assessment: 1) IED diagnosis; 2) non-IED psychiatric diagnosis; and 3) no significant psychiatric history. Groups were compared on factors of parental demographics, intrafamilial aggression, lifetime syndromal and personality diagnoses, neurodevelopmental and learning difficulties, childhood peer relationships, and juvenile legal issues. Results: Significant patterns emerged specific to IED for not being raised by both parents, greater physical aggression to participant, and greater degree of fighting with peers by age ten. Limitations: The retrospective, and cross-sectional, nature of the study, which prevent the making of causal inferences, and the basic nature of the questions asked of participants which limit a more nuanced interpretation of the data. A further limitation is bias associated with self-reported responses. Conclusions: Results suggest the prevalence childhood adversaries may be linked with IED; the childhood environment of those with IED likely is substantially more tumultuous than individuals with or without other psychiatric disorders.