How are impulse control disorders diagnosed?

Answer 1

A diagnosis of any of these impulse control disorders can be made only after other medical and psychiatric disorders that may cause the same symptoms have been ruled out. Some doctors may administer questionnaires or similar.

Answer 2

Impulse control disorders are characterized by an inability to resist the impulse to perform an action that is harmful to one's self or others. This is a relatively new class of personality disorders, and the most common of these are.

Answer 3

Edition 5 of the DSM, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, has a new section on "disruptive, impulse-control and conduct disorders". There is no individual disorder called Impulse Control Disorder. The disorders discussed in the manual under this heading are: Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Intermittent Explosive Disorder, Conduct Disorder, Antisocial Personality Disorder, Pyromania, and Kleptomania. There is a diagnostic code for 'other...', for situations where a person may have some symptoms of one or more of the disorders listed here, but who does meet full criteria for any one of the disorders. There is also a code for 'unspecified', used when the clinician cannot or chooses not to specify why criteria are not met for a specific disorder. This might happen in an emergency situation.

As you might expect, some very general things that these disorders might have in common are anger expressed verbally or in behavior, the violation of the rights of others, the destruction and/or theft of property, resentments, non-compliance, or bullying. There are many other criteria discussed in the manual. Many people may do any number of these things from time to time, and this does NOT constitute a diagnosis. It is challenging sometimes even for professionals to diagnose these things correctly, even with careful assessment.