Interpersonal psychotherapy for mood and behavior dysregulation: Pilot randomized trial

Area of Science:

• Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• Psychosocial Interventions
• Mental Health Research

Background:

• Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD) is characterized by chronic irritability and excessive reactivity in youth.
• DMDD significantly impairs social functioning across multiple settings, including peer, school, and home environments.
• Existing treatments for DMDD require further investigation for efficacy and feasibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility and acceptability of Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Mood and Behavior Dysregulation (IPT-MBD) in adolescents with DMDD.
• To evaluate the preliminary efficacy of IPT-MBD compared to treatment-as-usual (TAU) for youth with DMDD.
• To determine if IPT-MBD can reduce irritability and improve interpersonal functioning in adolescents with DMDD.

Main Methods:

• A pilot randomized trial involving 19 adolescents (aged 12-17) diagnosed with DMDD or severe mood dysregulation.
• Participants were randomly assigned to either IPT-MBD (n=10) or TAU (n=9) for a 24-week intervention period.
• Assessments included blinded evaluations of mood symptoms and functioning, alongside parent and self-report irritability measures.

Main Results:

• High adherence and completion rates were observed in the IPT-MBD group (80% completion, >80% session attendance).
• Parents and adolescents found the IPT-MBD therapy frequency and duration appropriate and reported satisfaction with the treatment.
• Statistically significant improvements in clinical global impression scales for severity and improvement were noted in the IPT-MBD group compared to TAU.

Conclusions:

• IPT-MBD demonstrated feasibility and acceptability among adolescents with DMDD and their parents.
• The study indicated significantly greater improvement in the IPT-MBD group compared to TAU, suggesting preliminary efficacy.
• IPT-MBD shows promise as an effective psychosocial intervention for youth with DMDD, meriting further research in larger trials.