Emotional dysregulation

Emotional dysregulation, in contrast to Emotional self-regulation, is a term used in the mental health community to refer to an emotional response that is poorly modulated and does not fall within the conventionally accepted range of emotive response. Emotional dysregulation can lead to behavioral problems and can interfere with a person's social interactions and relationships at home, in school, or at place of employment. Common manifestations of emotional dysregulation include angry outbursts, yelling, screaming, crying, ripping up papers, throwing objects, aggression towards self or others, and threats to kill oneself. Other examples of emotional dysregulation might include rage over a broken plate, or hysterics over a missed appointment.

Emotional dysregulation is a broad phenomenon that is a component of many mental health disorders.Beauchaine, T., Gatzke-Kopp, L., Mead, H., (2007). Polyvagal Theory and developmental psychopathology: Emotion dysregulation and conduct problems from preschool to adolescence. "Biological Psychology", "74", 174-184.] While it can be associated with an experience of early psychological trauma, or chronic maltreatment (such as child abuse, child neglect, or institutional neglect/abuse), it can also be associated with a wide range of psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders in adults and children. This includes Reactive attachment disorder, Asperger Syndrome, Autism, Bipolar Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), and Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.Pynoos, R., Steinberg, A., & Piacentini, J. (1999), Bipolar Disorder, and Asperger Syndrome. A developmental psychopathology model of childhood traumatic stress and intersection with anxiety disorders. "Biological Psychiatry", "46", 1542-1554.] Schore, A., (2003). "Affect dysregulation and disorders of the self". New York: Norton.]

ee also

* Alexithymia
* Attachment theory
* Bipolar Disorder
* Borderline Personality Disorder or BPD
* Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or C-PTSD
* Emotional self-regulation
* Labile affect
* Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD
* Reactive Attachment Disorder

References