The Effectiveness of Dialectical Behavior Therapy on Reducing Irritability and Aggression in Adolescents with Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder

The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of dialectical behavior therapy on reducing irritability and aggression in Middle school students in Kermanshah city. The study employed a semi-experimental research design with a pre-test-post-test methodology and a control group. The statistical population included boy students who were studying in the city of Kermanshah in the academic year of 2022-2023. The research sample consisted of 39 people (19 people in the experimental group and 20 people in the control group) who were selected by the available sampling method and randomly assigned to two experimental and control groups. The research tools included self-report questionnaire of disruptive mood dysregulation disorder Boudjerida et al (2022), Affective reactivity Stringaris et al (2012), Achenbach adolescent aggression scale (1991) and clinical interview Nussbaum (2013). The experimental group underwent 10 sessions of 60 minutes (two sessions per week) and the control group did not receive any training. At the end of the post-test sessions and finally after 3 months, follow-up was done. Data analysis was performed using the method of Univariate analysis of variance. The results showed that dialectical behavior therapy had a significant effect on reducing irritability and aggression in the post-test and follow-up stages. The findings of this research provide valuable information regarding dialectical behavior therapy, and counselors and psychologists can use this therapy to reduce disruptive behaviors such as irritability and aggression in adolescents with destructive mood disorder.