Psychosocial interventions for symptoms of disruptive mood dysregulation disorder: A meta-analysis

Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD) is characterized by chronic irritability and severe, recurrent temper outbursts among youth aged 6–18 years. Although psychosocial interventions are associated with reductions in chronic irritability and disruptive behaviors, fewer studies have explored if such interventions are associated with symptom decreases in the context of DMDD specifically. This meta-analysis examined overall effect sizes for changes in pre–post intervention irritability and disruptive behaviors, as well as study characteristics that may account for differences among effect sizes (e.g., intervention methods, informant, setting). A search of academic databases (i.e., APA PsycInfo, PubMed) through October 2024 yielded 2,472 results. After screening, the final sample included 13 studies measuring changes in irritability (19 data points, N = 571) and, among those 13, 11 studies also assessing changes in disruptive behaviors (13 data points, N = 431) among youth. Effects of psychosocial interventions were medium for irritability: Hedge’s g = −0.484, 95% confidence interval CI [−0.646, −0.323], p < .001, and large for disruptive behaviors: Hedge’s g = −0.717, 95% CI [−1.081, −0.354], p < .001, among youth with DMDD symptoms. For irritability, effect sizes were significant regardless of levels of the study characteristics, indicating psychosocial interventions are similarly effective for irritability symptoms across setting, symptom informant, and study design. For disruptive behavior symptoms, findings were moderated by symptom informant, age, and intervention features. Findings provide preliminary evidence that psychosocial interventions are associated with reductions in DMDD symptoms (e.g., irritability and disruptive behaviors) among youth. Certain factors moreover are differentially associated with symptom reduction. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved)