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Editorial: Moving From Concept to Proof in the Distinction Between Phasic and Tonic Irritability
1Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.
Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
|February 18, 2021
Summary
Irritability in children and adolescents presents as either short-lived temper outbursts (phasic) or a persistently angry mood (tonic). Further research is needed to understand their distinct clinical features and treatment responses.
Area of Science:
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Mental Health
Background:
- Irritability is a common symptom across numerous child and adolescent psychiatric disorders.
- Its presentation is heterogeneous, varying significantly between and within individuals.
- Two temporal components, phasic and tonic irritability, have been proposed to explain this heterogeneity.
Discussion:
- Phasic irritability involves intense, short-lived temper outbursts, potentially with aggression.
- Tonic irritability is characterized by a persistent angry or grumpy mood.
- The distinction between these two forms requires further investigation.
Key Insights:
- Irritability's heterogeneity is partly explained by its temporal dynamics.
- Phasic irritability manifests as acute temper outbursts.
- Tonic irritability presents as a chronic, negative mood state.
Outlook:
- Clarifying the differences between phasic and tonic irritability is crucial.
- Future research should explore their distinct clinical correlates.
- Investigating underlying mechanisms, longitudinal course, and treatment response for each type is essential.
