Assessment of the Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder is diagnosed only in individuals who are in the age range of seven to eighteen years old (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). However, a childhood diagnosis of DMDD increases the likelihood of a diagnosis of another mental disorder in adulthood. According to Copeland et al (2014) childhood irritability is a predictor of Major Depressive Disorder, General Anxiety Disorder, and Dysthymia in adulthood. Specifically, children with DMDD are at a seven times greater risk of developing a depressive disorder later in life. Similarly, according to Brotman et al (2010) the presence of a DMDD diagnosis in childhood may be a predictor of Major Depressive Disorder in adulthood, as both disorders are associated with hypoactivation of the amygdala. Further, irritability is considered to be a key indicative feature linked with an …show more content…
As the disorder is new, few tests or instruments are available to assist in the assessment of the DMDD. Yet, one such tool, the Child Behavioral Checklist dysregulation profile (CBCL-DP) has been identified as one of promise. The CBCL-DP “captures the mixed phenotype of severe behavioral and affective dysregulation, including irritability, aggression, ‘affective storms’, hyperarousal, and mood instability” (Zepf & Holtmann, 2012, p. 6). Zepf and Holtmann (2012) suggest the CBCL-DP phenotype may be useful in identifying patients with severe mood problems, such as DMDD. Additionally, as discussed previously individuals with Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder have hypoactivity of the amygdala, which is evident in fMRI imaging, suggesting neuroimaging may be helpful in the assessment of the presences of DMDD in an individual ( Brotman et al.,