The conceptualization and treatment plan of a child diagnosed with DMDD

What is it about?

The case report details the integration of the available literature to create a conceptualization and multimodal treatment plan designed to alleviate the negative mood and disruptive behaviors associated with DMDD in an 11-year-old male. Twenty-three sessions included components of psychoeducation, family-based behavior management training, individual cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques, and medication. From pre- to post-assessment, both verbal report and rating scales suggested significant gains including improved compliance, decreased outbursts, and improved mood, despite some persisting negativistic bias. Overall, the created multimodal treatment plan demonstrated preliminary evidence for the reduction of symptoms for a child diagnosed with DMDD. Treatment complications and implications for future work are discussed.

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Why is it important?

One of the new diagnoses added to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD) is a condition that is not currently well studied or understood. While some work has proposed options for psychosocial and psychopharmacological intervention, very limited research exists to guide clinicians in developing an evidence-informed conceptualization and treatment for children with DMDD.