A family history study of intermittent explosive disorder.
BACKGROUND
Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED) is newly appreciated as a commonly occurring disorder of impulsive aggression. Since aggression and impulsivity are under genetic influence, IED may be familial.


METHODS
Blinded and controlled family history study of IED and co-morbid conditions in an outpatient clinical research center for impulsive aggression. The subjects were first-degree relatives of individuals who did and did not meet criteria for IED by DSM-IV and Research Criteria.


RESULTS
Elevated Morbid Risk of IED was observed in relatives of IED Probands compared with relatives of Non-IED Probands. This familial signal of IED was not affected by comorbidity in the IED Probands of comorbidity in the relatives of the IED Probands.


CONCLUSIONS
IED, as defined by research criteria, appears to be familial and may not be an artifact of other co-morbid conditions.
Coccaro
Emil F
EF
Clinical Neuroscience and Psychopharmacology Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, The Pritzker School of Medicine, The University of Chicago, 5841 South Maryland Avenue, Chicago, IL 60637, USA. ecoccaro@yoda.bsd.uchicago.edu.
D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D007174:Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index