James Donaldson on Mental Health - What Are the Kinds of Depression?

Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD) DMDD is a relatively new diagnosis that is given to children who have frequent, explosive temper tantrums in reaction to things that don’t seem like a big deal.

In between tantrums they are irritable most of the time.

They have a short fuse and low frustration tolerance.

The DMDD diagnosis recognizes that for young children, depression can look more like anger than sadness.

Symptoms of DMDD usually show up before age 10.

It is not diagnosed before age six because temper tantrums are normal for young kids.

To be diagnosed with DMDD a child must have major temper tantrums three or more times a week on average.

This behavior has to show up when the child is with family, friends, and teachers — if it’s only in one situation it’s probably not DMDD.

Unlike kids with oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) these kids aren’t focused on defying authority.

They act out because they experience feelings more powerfully than other kids, and they lack self-regulation skills .