Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder is differentiated from Oppositional Defiant Disorder by greater severity and what other feature?

• A. Greater severity and that ODD may lack irritability
• B. Duration of symptoms is shorter
• C. DMDD has no temper outbursts
• D. DMDD has episodic mood shifts

Answer: (A)

Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder is defined by a persistent, irritable or angry mood between severe temper outbursts and by the sheer severity of those mood symptoms. In contrast, Oppositional Defiant Disorder centers on a pattern of defiant, oppositional behavior toward authority and does not require the persistent irritability between outbursts. So the key distinguishing feature is that DMDD combines greater severity with a persistent irritability mood that ODD may lack.

That’s why the correct choice emphasizes both the higher severity and the possibility that ODD may not involve irritability as a core, mood-related symptom. The other options don’t fit because DMDD does include frequent, severe temper outbursts, its mood is not episodic, and DMDD’s symptoms are broader and more persistent than merely shorter duration.