While most children occasionally exhibit tempter-tantrums, researchers warn that parents may want to be especially vigilant of certain types of tantrums. A recent study finds specific types of tantrum behaviors which appear to be connected to depression or disruptive disorders in children ages three to six.
The researchers, out of the Washington University School of Medicine St. Louis, examined tantrum behavior in 279 children, of which a portion was already diagnosed with mental health problems. Their study, published in the Journal of Pediatrics, found that children that tend to be diagnosed with ADHD and oppositional-defiant disorder are also those that exhibit extremely aggressive behavior during tantrums. In addition, another behavior for parents to be concerned with during tantrums is self-harm, the most typical being; biting, scratching and head-banging. The children exhibiting self-harm during tantrums were more likely than other children to be diagnosed with major depressive disorders, regardless of how long these tantrums lasted or how frequently they occurred.
Other tantrum behaviors of note include; the child being unable to calm themselves without assistance, tantrums which exceed twenty-five minutes in length, and tantrum behavior occurring more than five times a day or twenty times per month. Researchers that ran the study suggest that parents noticing any of these behaviors, especially self-harming behaviors, contact their pediatrician for further direction;
“If it gets to the point where the parent is uncomfortable leaving the house because they are so fearful their child will have tantrum, that should be a sign to the parent (to seek help)”
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Links to This Article
When is a tantrum not just a tantrum? at adhd advice.net (1/20/2008)
From Psych Central's website:
An Unlikely Reminder of Personal Growth | Psych Central (8/21/2009)
One Comment to
“When is a tantrum not just a tantrum?”
I have to say that I think that as a parent we should be able to differ the difference between a tantrum and needing to get help for our children.
I suffer from manic depression and I think that I probably have had problems for awhile but it is the worlds standards to undermine the real feelings and effects of depression so it makes it hard for adults to get help for themselves let alone ask for help for their children because that means that there is something wrong with us and that can not be so our kids are just a little cranky but they do not need help. That to me is the biggest lie we can tell and except for ourselves and our children. It is okay to get the help I found insightpros.com and I am understanding more and more the importance of just being okay to say that yes I have depression but I am ok.
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Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 23 Dec 2007
