DSM-V: Mood Disorders, Part 1

Mood disorders, including Depression and Bipolar Disorder, are tentatively slated for a number of changes in the DSM-V. You can read an overview of the proposed changes on the DSM-V web site, and follow the links to specific disorders to see the proposed diagnostic criteria and the rationale for any changes. One of the most contentious proposals involves an attempt to decrease what is perceived to be over-diagnosis (or misdiagnosis) of Bipolar Disorder in young children.  Over the past few years, a number of studies have looked at severe mood dysregulation (SMD) in children and what happens to these children as they mature — do they develop depression or Bipolar Disorder, or neither? As a result of the studies, two DSM-V work groups collaborated and proposed a new diagnosis called "Temper Dysregulation Disorder with Dysphoria" (TDD).  You can read the proposed diagnostic criteria on the DSM-V web site or here. If you are interested in this condition or the issue of childhood-onset mood disorders, you may find it helpful to read two articles that the work groups produced to explain the research and their rationale for proposing TDD as a new diagnosis:   Issues Pertinent to a Developmental Approach to Bipolar Disorder and Justification for Temper Dysregulation Disorder with Dysphoria. In subsequent posts, I will try to summarize more of the controversy and provide statements by different groups of stakeholders who are pro and con the proposal.