Being a teenager is an emotional experience all on its own. They’re going through puberty and trying to “fit in” at school. They’re also trying to manage stressful schoolwork and figure out who they are as a person. Those challenges can bring on sadness, anger, anxiety and frustration. However, there’s the possibility that your teen’s mood changes are signs of a mental health condition. Two possible diagnoses are disruptive mood dysregulation disorder and bipolar disorder. But what’s the difference?

Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder and bipolar disorder are both conditions that can impact the emotional, mental and behavioral patterns of your teenager. By learning what the difference is between the two, you can gain a better understanding of which one better aligns with your teenager.

We’ll cover the basics of disruptive mood dysregulation disorder and bipolar disorder in teens. Then we’ll go over how to differentiate the two.

Defining disruptive mood dysregulation disorder and bipolar disorder in teens

Let’s start off with some basic definitions of the two mental health conditions.

Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that involves drastic changes in energy and emotion. A person with bipolar disorder alternates between periods of manic highs and depressive lows. A manic episode has symptoms of heightened energy, racing thoughts and impulsive behavior. A depressive episode can include overwhelming sadness, loss of interest in activities and sluggishness.

Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD) is a mental health condition that’s characterized by persistent irritability and angry outbursts. It almost exclusively affects children and adolescents. People with DMDD are often described as having “temper tantrums.” The reactions are much more severe and disproportionate to what causes them.

Differentiating disruptive mood dysregulation disorder and bipolar disorder in teens

Both bipolar disorder and disruptive mood dysregulation disorder have similar prevalence rates among adolescents. Approximately 2.9% of U.S. adolescents have bipolar disorder. Between 2% and 5% of adolescents have DMDD. It’s important to note that DMDD is a relatively new diagnosis. It was only added to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) in 2013. The research and data on the condition are still ongoing.

If your teen is exhibiting mood changes, here are some differentiations between DMDD and bipolar disorder:

• Positive vs. negative emotions — While DMDD only involves negative emotions, bipolar doesn’t. Teens with DMDD express anger and irritability most of the time. Bipolar disorder can cause teens to have both positive and negative emotions. However, the positive emotions, such as elation, are only conveyed during manic episodes. Bipolar disorder depressive episodes involve feeling overwhelming sadness. Irritability can be present in both DMDD and manic bipolar disorder episodes.
• Frequency of disruptive behavior — Teens with DMDD have chronic and persistent anger. This leads to frequent outbursts. The diagnosis criteria involve severe temper outbursts that occur at least three times a week for a year. Bipolar disorder symptoms are episodic. Disruptive behavior from bipolar disorder usually occurs during manic episodes. It can include risky actions, irritability and destructive actions. While episodes can vary in length, teens with bipolar disorder have manic episodes that last up to one week.
• Changes in condition with age — DMDD is defined as a pediatric condition. That means that your teen can grow out of it. But if left untreated, DMDD can result in your teen developing anxiety or depression later on in life. Bipolar disorder is a lifelong condition. It requires ongoing treatment for your teen to be able to have the best quality of life possible as they grow.

If your teen is showing symptoms of any mental health condition, talk to their pediatrician about your concerns. They can decide the best way to proceed. They will likely give you a referral to a psychiatrist or psychologist for a diagnosis. It’s important to remember that bipolar disorder can be difficult to diagnose in teens. This is often due to misdiagnosing symptoms for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). It can also be confused for depression, as the depressive episodes last much longer than manic episodes.

How Lightfully can help your teen with disruptive mood dysregulation disorder or bipolar disorder

If your teen receives a diagnosis of either disruptive mood dysregulation disorder or bipolar disorder, it’s important that they receive the right support. Treatment for most mental health conditions involves a combination of medication and therapy.

If your teen’s symptoms are interfering with their overall quality of life, and they require more intensive support, our three Lightfully Teen levels of care may help. We provide Residential Treatment, a Partial Hospitalization Program and an Intensive Outpatient Program. Everything we do consists of evidence-based, whole-person-centered care provided by compassionate experts.

Change is possible. When you’re ready to take the first step for your teen, reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team. We’ll take the next steps together, toward the fullest, brightest version of them.