Once again pathologizing something pretty normal -- if a teen isn't irritable, then you start to wonder. Often, it's just part of adolescence and separation from one's parents. When I was a teen therapy patient, my shrink said it was totally UNhealthy that I was not at all rebellious and such a "good girl." I guess such concepts are passe?

What about those folks who are not at all irritable as teens? Where are the studies proving irritability is abnormal? Any nod to external circumstances? Nah...we're moving in that dangerous direction of the most oppressive Eastern European and Asian regimes, the direction in which all behavior that is not joyfully and overtly obedient to authority is considered mental illness. Disobedient teens aren't punished they're isolated and "helped." Scary stuff. Isn't irritability normal in a teen?

I'd love to see who gets to judge whether a teen is pathologically irritable or "is reacting with irritability proportionate to the situation."

Also what about adults. Do irritable 20 somethings become cranky 30ishes? Ah the disease of irritability. Let's start out treating it with ssri's, move to anti-psychotics, and if the suggestion of forced EST makes you grouchy, obviously you're suffering from irritability syndrome and are in desperate need of having your brain fried. The crankier the psych treatment makes you, the more you need it.

Hi - I see the same thing in these studies. Same with the smoking-to-later-psychopathology studies from Biederman. I believe that these pharma-sponsored psychiatrists are working to set up a picture where they can urge practitioners to, upon detecting irritability, or smoking, to realize that it indicates the development of [fill-in-the-blank], and the kid should be started on meds NOW! before it is too late!!! Out of guilt (we don't spend enuff time with junior), or out of lack of parenting basics (we are working on having our teen be reciprocally respectful, and to count blessings, rather than adopt the irritable attitude of peers - it works), all the suburban parents with health insurance will jump when the psychiatrist says jump.

This is lousy science. There will be a handful who are irritable in teen years. Five yers later, a handful will still be irritable, or depressed or whatever, while lots will no longer be. At the same time, some who are not irritable at teen years will be irritable, or depressed or whatever, five years later.

Either way, for teens, the evidence is very clear: talk therapy is the way to go.

I had generalized anxiety disorder since I was 3 years old and during my childhood and I was not irritable at all. The disorder made me a very fragile child.

I didn't realize it was possible to be 13 and not be irritable.

I'm glad I didn't know the researchers when they were 13. They were probably pretty boring.

I believe that JAMA and all these people who did and do this kind of research should be ashamed of themselves.
Now it's my turn:
Where are the evidences?

lol

I'm amazed. They are really crossing all lines.
Shame.
Dysthymia is still consider a disease? The last time I heard of it it was not.
But 81%? I don't think that they will prescribe Valium like they did in the 70ies.

Sometimes I take a look at the insurance health reform. Nothing is said about the quality of treatment and I believe it will take a long time till people realize that iatrogenesis is number 3 cause of hospitalization in America.

Sorry, it was a NIMH research.

I'm a little irritated now.

What about those teenagers who are passive, very sweet and quiet?
I don't think it's normal nowadays and much more problematic.