Does your child have a verbal or physical tantrum that comes out of nowhere and is an out-of-proportion reaction to the situation at hand?
Canada.com reports that this is the criteria for a new disorder called temper dysregulation disorder or TDD.
It is being recommended for inclusion in the next edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, or DSM, a massive catalogue of brain dysfunction now undergoing its first major revision in 16 years. This is a physician’s bible when it comes to diagnosing disorders.
TDD is actually an alternative or rather a new name for the diagnosis of childhood bipolar disorder. This diagnosis has skyrocketed in recent years among young children. It is believed that this new condition is less severe.
Critics say that a TDD diagnosis could pave the way for a greater number of prescriptions for antipsychotics, antidepressants or mood stabilizers for children. To some experts, children are unruly and do not need to be prescribed any treatment.
Experts that developed this new name say that they are only talking about behaviour that is beyond a normal temper tantrum.