Intermittent Explosive Disorder: Does Raymond Clarke III Have It?

"People with Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED) may attack others causing bodily injury. Later, people with IED may feel remorse, regret or embarassment.", according to MayoClinic.com. Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED) is also uniquely characterized by "out of character" angry episodes with "little thinking or no planning". The superhero, Incredible Hulk, portrays the "short-fuse" disorder quite well.

Wikipedia.Org states that the Diagnostic Manual and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) also classifies Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED) as an "impulse control disorder".

Raymond Clark III, a Yale University Animal Lab Technician, was arrested for the death of Annie Le, Ph.d Pharmacology Student at Yale. Annie Le was reported missing last week. Her body, found on the day of her wedding last Sunday, September 13, 2009 , was stuffed in a gap in the basement wall of the research building in campus.

Raymond Clarke was charged after the results of interviews, forensic evidences such as DNA testing, and evaluation of surveillance security units in the building. It was also known that Raymond Clarke failed a lie detector test. Reports in media indicated that Raymond Clarke had scratch marks on his chest raising the possibility that Annie Le violently struggled to fight for her life.

TimesOnline.Com reported that Raymond Clarke texted Annie Le for a "meeting to discuss the cleanliness of the cages of the research mice." As an animal technician, police said that "Clarke had the responsibility of cleaning the cages of research animals used by labs around the Ivy League campus and had other janitorial duties".

The police indicated that the incident may simply be categorized as "workplace violence". However, there are interesting speculations that Raymond Clarke may have an episode of "Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED)". As an animal lab technician in a research facility in the campus, Raymond Clarke may be unable to control his temper in the way graduate students, particularly Annie Le, may have handled the research animals. Different researchers dispose of their "experimental animals" in different ways. Some do the "dry ice method" or some decapitate some of the animal parts. This could be a stress trigger to any person who is mentally or emotionally unstable. Photos taken on Raymond Clarke at his Facebook suggests that he had strong affinity to a dog.

The Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders states that "Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED) was originally described as a "partial insanity" related to senseless impulsive actions. Their violent behavior is out of proportion to the incident or event that triggered the outburst." Thus, people suffering from Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED), may create a "mountain out of a molehill". These sufferers are known to be easily insulted and offended. After the tension builds up and remains unresolved, the sufferer may act out by hitting another person, verbally showing outrage, or committing a violent act. It is known that people with Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED) are remorseful of their actions after a few hours.

In article by Dr. Chuck of Wellsphere.com, Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED) affects roughly 16 million Americans. Several studies suggests that Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED) is triggered by abnormal serotonin activities. IED starts at the age of puberty, roughly around 14 years old. The likelihood that Raymond Clarke has some "temper outburst" history in his high school years is very high. If left undetected and treated, Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED) have serious consequences and could lead to cold-blooded aggression.

Sources:

"Intermittent Explosive Disorders", Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders, MindDisorders.com

"Rage Behavior", RageBehavior.Com

"Intermittent Explosive Disorder", MayoClinic.Com

"Intermittent Explosive Disorder", Wikipedia.org

"Intermittent Explosive Disorder", AOL Health

Jenny Booth, " Yale lab technician Raymon Clark texted Annie Le on day she disappeared",
Timesonline.Org

Dr. Chuck, "Impulsivity: Is it ADD or IED, Intermittent Explosive Disorder, Wellsphere.Com