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. 2016 Apr;46(5):1103-14.
doi: 10.1017/S0033291715002809. Epub 2016 Jan 20.

Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder at the age of 6 years and clinical and functional outcomes 3 years later

L R Dougherty  1 , V C Smith  1 , S J Bufferd  2 , E M Kessel  3 , G A Carlson  4 , D N Klein  3
Affiliations

Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder at the age of 6 years and clinical and functional outcomes 3 years later

L R Dougherty et al. Psychol Med. 2016 Apr.

Abstract

Background: Little is known about the predictive validity of disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD). This longitudinal, community-based study examined associations of DMDD at the age of 6 years with psychiatric disorders, functional impairment, peer functioning and service use at the age of 9 years.

Method: A total of 473 children were assessed at the ages of 6 and 9 years. Child psychopathology and functional impairment were assessed at the age of 6 years with the Preschool Age Psychiatric Assessment with parents and at the age of 9 years with the Kiddie-Schedule of Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia (K-SADS) with parents and children. At the age of 9 years, mothers, fathers and youth completed the Child Depression Inventory (CDI) and the Screen for Child Anxiety Related Disorders, and teachers and K-SADS interviewers completed measures of peer functioning. Significant demographic covariates were included in all models.

Results: DMDD at the age of 6 years predicted a current diagnosis of DMDD at the age of 9 years. DMDD at the age of 6 years also predicted current and lifetime depressive disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) at the age of 9 years, after controlling for all age 6 years psychiatric disorders. In addition, DMDD predicted depressive, ADHD and disruptive behavior disorder symptoms on the K-SADS, and maternal and paternal reports of depressive symptoms on the CDI, after controlling for the corresponding symptom scale at the age of 6 years. Last, DMDD at the age of 6 years predicted greater functional impairment, peer problems and educational support service use at the age of 9 years, after controlling for all psychiatric disorders at the age of 6 years.

Conclusions: Children with DMDD are at high risk for impaired functioning across childhood, and this risk is not accounted for by co-morbid conditions.

Keywords: Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder; irritability; longitudinal studies.

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Conflict of interest statement

Dr. Carlson has received funding from Glaxo Smith Kline, Bristol Myers Squibb, Pfizer, and Merck. The other authors report no financial relationships with commercial interests.

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