Condition Lookup
Category:
Behavioral Disorders
Number of Conditions: 1
Aggression
Specialty: Mental Health and Psychology
Category: Behavioral Disorders
Symptoms:
verbal hostility; physical violence; irritability; impulsivity; difficulty controlling anger; threatening behavior
Root Cause:
Dysregulation of emotional and cognitive control mechanisms, often influenced by biological, psychological, or social factors.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Through observation of behavior, psychological evaluation, and ruling out medical conditions (e.g., neurological disorders).
Treatment:
Anger management therapy, CBT, or dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) to address triggers and coping mechanisms. Family therapy may also help.
Medications:
Mood stabilizers like lithium or valproate for impulsivity; antipsychotics like risperidone for severe aggression; SSRIs for underlying depression or anxiety.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Difficult to estimate due to its variability, but significant among individuals with psychiatric conditions like intermittent explosive disorder or personality disorders.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
History of trauma, substance abuse, underlying psychiatric disorders, genetic predisposition, and environmental stressors.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
With treatment, individuals can learn to manage aggressive impulses effectively. Without treatment, aggression can lead to legal issues, social isolation, or injury.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Interpersonal conflicts, legal problems, injury to self or others, and worsening of comorbid psychiatric conditions.