Irritability is defined as developmentally inappropriate proneness to anger. Irritability is
a symptom of several mental health conditions in children and adolescents such as attention
deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), conduct disorder
(CD), depressive disorders, anxiety disorders.Irritability has been associated with poor
functional outcomes across the lifespan and was found to be specifically associated with
concurrent and longitudinal emotional disorders, suicidality and impaired academic and
socio-professional functioning. Children with high irritability also have distinct
physiological profiles with hyper-reactivity to stress and perceived threats.
Despite the high prevalence and health issues related to irritability, there is little
treatment research on this topic. Developing evidence-based non-pharmacological treatment
options for children suffering from severe, chronic irritability is therefore a particularly
important target for clinical research.