The typical 2 1 female predominance in the presentation of mood disorders is tempered in at least some comorbid disease states.
The current DSM-V task group is attempting to address the surge in diagnoses of PBD with the introduction of a new category, Temper Dysregulation Disorder with Dysphoria, which is also controversial [ 5].
We agree with one emerging approach, which gives part or all of that larger number of children a new diagnosis called Severe Mood Dysregulation or Temper Dysregulation Disorder with Dysphoria.
That is, Leibenluft et al. were suggesting that some children who had been receiving a BP diagnosis might be better served by a new diagnosis, perhaps called Severe Mood Dysregulation (or, as the DSM V editors are currently proposing, "Temper Dysregulation Disorder with Dysphoria") [ 39].
The DSM gives names like "disruptive mood dysregulation disorder" to temper tantrums in children and "binge eating disorder" to those who tend to overeat.
The new diagnosis of "disruptive mood dysregulation disorder" will turn childhood temper tantrums into symptoms of a mental illness.
The DSM, now approaching its fifth great edition, runs to hundreds of pages and includes such nebulous-sounding illnesses as intermittent explosive disorder (temper tantrums), relational disorder (pissed off with a relative) and sluggish cognitive tempo disorder (you may lack motivation).
Children may now, for example, be diagnosed with "disruptive mood dysregulation disorder"—what used to be known as temper tantrums.
Or consider the new diagnosis of "disruptive mood dysregulation disorder" for 6- to 18-year-olds who have "severe recurrent temper outbursts manifested verbally and/or behaviorally".
One significant change would be adding a childhood disorder called temper dysregulation disorder with dysphoria, a recommendation that grew out of recent findings that many wildly aggressive, irritable children who have been given a diagnosis of bipolar disorder do not have it.
