Intermittent Explosive Disorder Treatment

Learn more about IED at Southwood Psychiatric Hospital near Pittsburgh, PA

Intermittent explosive disorder (IED) is a disorder in which an individual will experience repeated episodes of impulsive, aggressive, violent behavior or angry, verbal outbursts in a manner that is completely out of proportion to the situation at hand. Children and adolescents with IED may attack others, causing them bodily harm or harm the possessions of others, resulting in property damage. The presence of this behavioral disorder can cause a significant amount of disruption in a child’s life at home, school, and within his or her social relationships. Southwood Psychiatric Hospital understands that IED is debilitating for young people and are pleased to offer treatment that is geared towards improving the lives of all who are entrusted into our care. Our programming is designed to help young sufferers of intermittent explosive disorder learn to manage and prevent their explosive episodes, while also helping them learn to manage their behaviors and impulses in more appropriate ways. At Southwood Psychiatric Hospital, we want children and adolescents to succeed in overcoming the devastating symptoms of mental illnesses.

Why consider treatment for IED at Southwood Psychiatric Hospital near Pittsburgh, PA

Children and adolescents with IED may attack other people and property, often causing them to suffer from bodily harm or serious injuries that can leave permanent damage. These young people may also direct their anger at themselves, engaging in self-harming behaviors or making multiple suicidal attempts. Additionally, these young people may struggle with maintaining interpersonal relationships because they are seen by their peers as always being angry. Other complications that are commonly associated with this disorder include a decline in academic performance, suspension from school, loss of a job, or getting in trouble with the law. They are also more likely to develop another mental health disorder, such as depression, anxiety, or drug and/or alcohol abuse. Furthermore, if treatment is not sought, these young people are at an increased risk for premature death as the result of suicide or some type of accident.

Types of IED treatment offered at Southwood Psychiatric Hospital near Pittsburgh, PA

As a foremost provider of child and adolescent mental healthcare, Southwood Psychiatric Hospital is devoted to providing the most effective mental health treatment, education, and assisted living services to youth who are battling emotional, behavioral, and cognitive concerns that are unique to young people. We believe that it is necessary to address and care for every need for each of our patients so that the most favorable treatment outcomes are the result. We believe all people are capable of change and possess the capacity to learn new skills and abilities that can serve well for a lifetime. Based on this belief, we facilitate a therapeutic environment that is conducive to healing and change so that each youth entrusted into our care has the opportunity to gain insight about his or her own life and develop positive skills for healthy functioning.

The methods for care utilized at Southwood Psychiatric Hospital include cognitive-behavioral approaches that implement crisis and reality theories. We believe that these approaches, coupled with a structured setting, produce lasting healing and promote interpersonal growth. Cornerstone to the care supplied by Southwood Psychiatric Hospital is individualized treatment planning within a therapeutic milieu that incorporates these approaches within several therapeutic methods. We also encourage each patient’s family to be involved in the therapeutic process so that every child and adolescent reaps the benefits of having ample support while bettering him or herself.

The following treatment methods are those that are featured within the programming offered at Southwood Psychiatric Hospital, methods that are proven to improve the lives of the population we serve:

Medication management: While there is no specific medication that treats IED, when a child or adolescent is struggling with a co-occurring disorder, medication is often used to manage some of the presenting symptoms. The need for medication is assessed by a psychiatrist who can then prescribe, monitor, and adjust medication(s) if it is deemed necessary for a youth’s care. Additionally, medical personnel, such as nurse practitioners and nurses, assist in the supervision of medication management so that the most effective dosage of a given medication produces the most favorable results. These professionals have contact with patients on a daily basis.

Individual therapy: Held every other day on the child and adolescent inpatient units, individual therapy sessions are provided to patients so that one-on-one time with a mental health professional can be had in order to help each youth process emotions and monitor treatment goals while in our care. This is a time in which a young person can talk about his or her successes and explore areas for improvement.

Family therapy: The involvement of each patient’s family is integral to the treatment at Southwood Psychiatric Hospital. We facilitate family therapy sessions at least one to two times over the course of a youth’s treatment. During family sessions, youth, caregivers, and other loved ones can work through familial conflicts, improve communication, and learn how to work as a team in ensuring lasting recovery from mental health concerns, such as the symptoms associated with IED. Additionally, we put forth every effort to make sure each young person in our care is able to have contact with his or her family at least once a day.

Group therapy: A myriad of groups are part of the treatment feature in our inpatient programming. Groups allow patients to practice new skills that have been learned, receive additional support from our staff as well as peers, and learn new methods for managing emotions, behaviors, and thoughts. Groups are held four times a day and are led by Master’s level clinicians, nurses, and other experienced professionals. Topics covered within these groups include the following and are based on the cognitive-behavioral therapeutic approach:

• The importance of and how to follow directions
• Recreation groups
• Anger management
• Stress management techniques
• Social skills development
• Effective methods for coping
• Teamwork and team building skills
• Diagnosis education
• Medication education

Experiential therapy: In order to encourage creative expression and stress the benefits of physical activity, Southwood Psychiatric Hospital incorporates numerous experiential therapies into its inpatient programming. The following are examples of the experiential therapies patients are able to participate in during the course of treatment:

• Gym
• Music
• Yoga
• Opportunities for recreation outside
• Art

Continuing care and levels of treatment for IED

While the programming offered within Southwood Psychiatric Hospital is focused on patients being able to achieve their treatment goals, we remain dedicated to helping those who come to our hospital for care in succeeding once they have completed their treatment. From the moment a youth is admitted into one of our programs, our staff begins formulating aftercare recommendations that will meet the child or adolescent’s needs. Inpatient treatment, by nature, is designed to stabilize a youth so that the therapeutic process can continue at a lower level of care. Therefore, we conduct an ongoing assessment of needs in order to ensure that referrals to another treatment provider will help a patient continue his or her success long after leaving Southwood Psychiatric Hospital.

Our staff of compassionate and caring professionals will work in collaboration with each youth and his or her family to establish how the youth will retain skills learned and which services in the community will refine and build upon those skills.

Whatever your child or adolescent’s mental health needs may be, let Southwood Psychiatric Hospital be your treatment provider of choice when trying to help your child achieve the life that he or she deserves.