Intermittent Explosive Disorder - an Excuse for Violence?

Need an excuse for beating up your kid or shooting at a stranger who cut you off in traffic? No problem. We point to Iraq war vets who are double amputees or blinded and see them succeed beyond all expectations and probability. They tell themselves "No excuses." We show pictures of Barack Obama to students in the worst circumstances and say "No excuses." We see a wrestler kick around an old man in a suit and think it's a joke. Everyone laughs. And the wrestler shows up with a medical diagnosis that gives him excuses.

The Facts

Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED), a mental disorder listed in the DSM IV, is now an excuse for almost any violent act against person or property. Beat your wife up? IED. Smack around your kid? IED? Shoot your neighbor because his dog did the dirty on his lawn. You've got AN EXCUSE. What's more, the more often a person exhibits violent rage, the more likely they will be diagnosed.

The Mayo clinic report on Intermittent Explosive disorder includes multiple occurrences, disproportionate aggression. The third criterium is, "The aggressive episodes aren't accounted for by another mental disorder and are not due to the effects of a drug or a general medical condition" Mayo Clinic online report on Intermittent Explosive Disorder."

The Mayo Clinic is among the most respected medical research facilities in the country. The researchers are doing great work in the field of mental health among many others. However, IED can now line up next to bipolar and depression to provide absolution for bad behavior.

WWE

I'm no fan of WWE or any other mock violence but it serves a purpose in our society, I suppose. I was horrified at seeing a buff young man, Randy Orton kick the bejebus out of an old man, Vince McMahon, in front of thousands and cameras. Whether staged or not, this is not part of the "game." Randy Orton waving a piece of paper saying his behavior was because of Intermittent Explosive Disorder is shameful. He claimed he was not responsible for his actions and would sue if he was fired for beating his employer.

What are we teaching our children?

2 of many Legal Cases where Intermittent Explosive Disorder was cited

I found several legal cases where IED was used as an excuse, or partial excuse, for behavior.

In Tennessee a second degree murder conviction used this disorder as a partial cause for appeal.

http://www.tsc.state.tn.us/OPINIONS/Tcca/PDF/064/GodseyGarlandOPN.pdf

A couple who lost custody of their children for abuse used IED as a partial excuse and, while the termination of parental rights was upheld, the appeals court dissenting opinion cited Intermittent Explosive Disorder.

http://www.romingerlegal.com/illinois/illinois_court_opinions_1/2040105.htm

Sources

http://www.pwmania.com/newsarticle.php?page=235024397

http://www.forensicpsychiatry.ca/impulse/explosive.htm

http://www.citeulike.org/user/jfpsy/article/902992

http://www.citeulike.org/user/jfpsy/article/902992www.citeulike.org/user/jfpsy/article/902992