Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED) is classified by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.) as "recurrent behavioral outbursts representing a failure to control aggressive impulses that are grossly out of proportion to the provocation to any precipitating psychosocial stressors" (American Psychiatric Association, 2013, p. 466). Patients diagnosed with this disorder are primarily male and is common among late childhood and adolescence. Children as young as 6 years of age may also be given this diagnosis. Research shows that religion and spiritual integration increases coping skills to reduce stress and help patients feel a sense of control over stressful situations (Koenig, 2012). This paper will explore how using forgiveness through spiritual integration activities increases the ability to cope with and reduce symptoms of IED. .
Symptoms and Causes of Intermittent Explosive Disorder.
Impulsive verbal or physical aggression may result in fights or arguments that cause significant clinical distress and impairment in social, occupational, or interpersonal functioning. Episodes of verbal aggression may include threats and inappropriate comments to friends and family members. Clients may lash out at parents or siblings for no reason and make comments that are emotionally disturbing. Physical aggression may include destruction of property or physical assault to others. Patients describe feeling irritable, increased energy, and racing thoughts during these explosive events. Parents are often left feeling hopeless and unsure of how to help or what to do. Coccaro and McCloskey (2010) stated that "the cardinal symptom of IED is repeated acts of impulsive (affective) aggression that are not better accounted for by another psychiatric disorder, medical condition, or substance " (p. 221). .
Although researchers and scientists do not know the exact cause of IED, it is believed that biological and environmental factors play a role.
