Am J Psychiatry 1983; 140:1200-1202
Copyright © 1983 by American Psychiatric Association
Problems in the diagnosis of intermittent explosive disorder
S Monopolis and JR Lion
The authors studied the accuracy with which intermittent explosive disorder
was diagnosed in a university hospital setting. An index of diagnostic
features abstracted from the description of intermittent explosive disorder
in DSM-III was used for chart review. Diagnosis of the disorder was made in
20 out of 830 admissions (2.4%). In 14 cases (1.7%) it was a primary one;
in another five (.6%) it was secondary; and in one case (.1%) it was
tertiary. The authors discuss the varied rigorousness of the diagnosis and
the importance of using an index of diagnostic features to enhance
diagnostic accuracy.
