Challenges in Classification of Mood Disorders: A Report

This report examines the challenges associated with the classification of mood disorders, drawing on two key articles. The first article focuses on the psychopathology of severe irritability in children and adolescents, comparing various diagnostic categories like bipolar disorder, disruptive mood dysregulation disorder, and oppositional defiant disorder. It highlights the limitations of current diagnostic criteria and the importance of considering factors like hyperactivity and arousal. The second article critically analyzes the DSM-5 classification of mood disorders, pointing out fallacies and advocating for a hybrid dimensional-categorical approach to improve diagnostic accuracy. It discusses the use of trans diagnostic emotional disorder vulnerabilities and phenotypes to classify anxiety and mood disorders, suggesting a more nuanced and potentially more effective approach to diagnosis and treatment. The report emphasizes the limitations of the articles, such as the small sample size and the need for more comprehensive studies, while also acknowledging the valuable insights they provide into the complexities of mood disorder classification.

Running Head: CHALLENGES IN CLASSIFICATION OF MOOD DISORDERS
CHALLENGES IN CLASSIFICATION OF MOOD DISORDERS
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Authors Note

1CHALLENGES IN CLASSIFICATION OF MOOD DISORDERS
Article 1:
Irritability in child and adolescent psychopathology: An integrative review for
ICD-11
Summary
The article focuses on severe irritation faced by children and adolescents and its
psychopathology. Initially, research was carried out on severe mood dysregulation. Study was
conducted on children and adolescents with severe irritability and temper outbursts along with
additional features including hyperactivity and arousal were collected using cross sectional
databases correlating with each other (Evans et. al., 2017). The results identifies them differently
from the adolescents suffering from bipolar disorder. Severe mood dysregulations were different
from bipolar disorder. Other research reveals that the cross sectional database was associated
with the internal problems and Oppositional Defiant Disorder Symptomatology. In the book of
Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders’ (5th edition), The cross sectional data
provides different information in comparison to Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder. It is a
type of Oppositional Defiant Disorder that includes chronic irritation and anger. This disorder of
Oppositional Defiant Disorder can be considered more consistent with the cross sectional data
available and addresses the global public health. It considers the chances of benefit or harm and
clinical utility.
Description of main points
The article mainly focuses on the comparison of the cross sectional databases collected from the
children and adolescents suffering from mood disorders. The comparison included bipolar
disorder, severe mood dysregulations, oppositional defiant disorder symptomatology and

2CHALLENGES IN CLASSIFICATION OF MOOD DISORDERS
disruptive mood dysregulation disorder. The comparison revealed certain similarities of the cross
sectional databases of severe irritability and temper outbursts with hyperactivity and arousal with
disruptive mood dysregulation disorder. It was found that the irritable factors included anxiety
disorders, negativity, anger, emotional inflexibility and disruptive disorders. The results were
different for boys and girls along with difference in the teacher and parent reports. Irritation was
associated with depression and anxiety.
Thoughts and perspectives regarding concepts
The limitations of this article is that it is a literature review article. Systematic review article
would have been better as it is accountable and measurable and provides accurate and focused
data. The sample size is small. Better results would have been formulated if the sample size was
larger. The results should be compared with more disorders for more similarity and narrow
approach for better results.
Article 2:
The DSM-5 classification of mood disorders: some fallacies and fault lines
Summary
The categories used by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) is
recognized for the limitations in anxiety and mood disorder. The recognition of limitations is
used by the researchers to forward an alternative scheme of classification where certain schemes
have been evaluated. The study was carried out on 1218 patients who suffered from anxiety and
mood disorders. An integrated dimensional categorical approach has been used to classify the
anxiety and mood disorders of the selected patients (Parker, 2014). The classification was based
on trans diagnostic emotional disorder vulnerabilities and phenotypes. Analysis of seven trans

3CHALLENGES IN CLASSIFICATION OF MOOD DISORDERS
diagnostic dimensional indicators provided a six class answer that was the best model and most
conceptually interpretable. The interpretation process was further was further supported when
the results were compared with DSM diagnosis. Moreover, the validity of the results were
proved by using hierarchical multiple regression models. It was found that the mood disorder
outcomes were above and beyond the DSM diagnosis practices. There was a high probability of
consistency in anxiety and mood disorder outcomes. The result provided the support and the
potential for the development and utilization of hybrid dimensional categorical profile approach
towards anxiety and mood disorders segregation. There is plenty of dimensional indicators
available along with certain materials that serve the purpose of research for clinicians and the
young researchers for diagnosis in relation with DSM.
Description of main points
The current study recommends that a hybrid dimensional-categorical approach to anxiety and
depression classification may assist as a beneficial adjunct to the existing categorical method.
Findings suggest that there is a promising clinical utility in the assessing procedure of the
emotional disorder indicators and profile types of the patients.
Thoughts and perspectives regarding concepts
The limitations of this article is that it is a literature review article. Systematic review article
would have been better as it is accountable and measurable and provides accurate and focused
data. The sample size is small. Better results would have been formulated if the sample size was
larger. The results should be compared with more disorders for more similarity and narrow
approach for better results.

4CHALLENGES IN CLASSIFICATION OF MOOD DISORDERS
References
Evans, S. C., Burke, J. D., Roberts, M. C., Fite, P. J., Lochman, J. E., Francisco, R., & Reed, G.
M. (2017). Irritability in child and adolescent psychopathology: An integrative review for
ICD-11. Clinical Psychology Review, 53, 29-45.
Parker, G. (2014). The DSM‐5 classification of mood disorders: some fallacies and fault
lines. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 129(6), 404-409.