Suggest Treatment For Symptoms Of Adjustment Disorder And Anger Episodes

Posted on Wed, 4 Mar 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Thu, 5 Mar 2015 Answered on

Wed, 25 Mar 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : I have been with a man who has begun getting very angry over very small issues like TV and my running a block down the road to get my son medicine without him knowing where I am going. I have now found him ranting loudly to himself after his episodes of anger and it is beginning to scare me. Is this a possible sign of mental illness?

Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (6 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Adjustment disorder can present with anger episode

Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for asking from HCM

Anger and irritability on minor issues like TV or going for medicines can't be labelled as having some serious medical or mental problem. A lot of individuals show increased anger or irritability in some circumstances. You are getting angry due to anger of your son, and this could be due stress.

Have you ever taken medicines for that anger?

Have you ever shown any depressive symptoms?

Is that anger causing dysfunction in social and personal life?

Please provide these details in follow up question so that I can comment with certainty.

Thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (21 minutes later)

No medication that I know of. I have very little information about his past. He moved here two years ago. He gets extremely angry over very small issues. TV shows, my taking my dog out in the rain because I was washing my feet and didn't want his help, running one block to get medicine for my handicapped son, not consulting him before I buy anything with my money for the home, he breaks glasses in restaurants, ripped my shower curtain off , slams doors ani now I find him in the bedroom ranting about me to someone and there is no one there. He is very aggressive. By here is no view but his. He tells me what I can and cannot do. Vi am becoming increasingly concerned about mental illness and my and my sons safety.

Answered by Dr. Seikhoo Bishnoi (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Such anger outbursts could occur in Bipolar disorder or Psychosis

Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for providing details in follow up question

I can understand your concern. Sudden unexplained anger outbursts, tearing curtains, breaking things, slamming doors etc could denote some psychiatric illness. You have mentioned that he was ranting about you to someone and no one was there, this could be occurring due to some hallucinatory behaviour though detailed evaluation is needed to make proper diagnosis. In hallucinatory behaviour individuals talk to some voices and this warrant psychiatric intervention. Muttering is also seen in mental disorders.

These symptoms can be occurring due to anger outbursts of Bipolar disorder or due to some Psychotic episode. If possible talk to him once he cooled down and request him to visit a doctor for evaluation. Medicines like MOOD STABILISERS like Sodium Valproate, Lithium carbonate can help to reduce the aggression and would decrease his anger. Visit a doctor for his evaluation and prescription.

Thanks, hope this helps you. Take care

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar