New hope for chronically cranky kids: therapy trial targets severe temper outbursts

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

* INCLUSION CRITERIA: Inclusion criteria for both Interpretation Bias Training and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Studies: 1. Age 8-17 years 2. Must be enrolled into NIMH DIRP protocol 02-M-0021, Characterization and Pathophysiology of Severe Mood and Behavioral Dysregulation in children and youth. 3. Must meet DSM 5 diagnostic criteria for DMDD which are (for CBT, must meet lifetime history of either DMDD or one of two core DMDD criteria \[b or c\]): * Must meet all of the following: 1. Diagnosis must first be made between ages 6-18 years 2. Abnormal mood (specifically, anger and/or irritability), present at least half of the day most days, and of sufficient severity to be noticeable by people in the child s environment (e.g. parents, teachers, peers). 3. Compared to his/her peers, the child exhibits markedly increased reactivity to negative emotional stimuli that is manifest verbally or behaviorally. For example, the child responds to frustration with extended temper tantrums (inappropriate for age and/or precipitating event), verbal rages, and/or aggression toward people or property. Such events occur, on average, at least three times a week. * The symptoms in b and c above are currently present and have been present for at least 12 months without any symptom-free periods exceeding two months. * The onset of symptoms must be prior to age 10 years. * The symptoms are severe in at least one setting (e.g. violent outbursts, assaultiveness at home, school, or with peers). In addition, there are at least mild symptoms (verbal aggression) in a second setting. 4. Patients must be fluent in English 1. All instruments have not been validated in other languages. 2. Psychotherapy will be designed and conducted in English. 5. On the basis of record review and interviews with child and parent, the research team agrees that the child s response to his/her current treatment is no more than minimal (i.e. CGI-S of 3 or more). 6. Must have no planned changes in outpatient psychiatric treatment regimen, which can include psychotropic medications and/or psychotherapeutic interventions, two weeks prior to enrollment and throughout the three weeks of training and post-training assessment. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: Exclusion criteria both Interpretation Bias Training and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Studies: 1. The individual exhibits any of these cardinal bipolar symptoms: 1. Elevated or expansive mood. 2. Grandiosity or inflated self-esteem. 3. Decreased need for sleep. 4. Increase in goal-directed activity (this can result in the excessive involvement in pleasurable activities that have a high potential for painful consequences). 5. A history of hypomanic or manic symptoms that occurred in distinct episodes lasting more than 1 day. 2. Meets DSM 5 criteria for schizophrenia, schizophreniform disorder, schizoaffective illness, Autism Spectrum Disorder, or posttraumatic stress disorder. 3. IQ\<70 4. The symptoms are due to the direct physiologic effects of a drug of abuse, or to a general medical or neurological condition. 5. Meets criteria for alcohol or substance abuse three months prior to enrollment. 6. Meets DSM 5 criteria for current major depressive disorder. The rationale for the exclusion of youth with MDD is because the two novel interventions being tested are contraindicated for those with major depressive disorder. However, there is no contraindication to participation for those with treated/resolved or remitted major depressive disorder; only those with a current diagnosis need to be excluded.