Emotional dysregulation

Overview
Emotional dysregulation (or affect dysregulation) is a term used in the mental health community to refer to an emotional response that is not well modulated. This means that an individual does not respond to a person, place, thing, or event in a manner that would generally be considered within the normal range of emotions. Emotional dysregulation is seen across both positive and negative affect. It is characterized by difficulty regulating one's emotions; examples of this might be rage over a broken plate, or hysterics over a missed appointment. In contrast, emotional regulation is defined as the relative ability to tolerate painful affect (referred to as affect tolerance), along with the ability to internally reduce distress.

Emotional dysregulation is a broad phenomenon that is a component of many mental health disorders. It is often caused by early exposure to psychological trauma or chronic maltreatment (such as child abuse, child neglect, or institutional neglect/abuse), and is strongly associated with Complex Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. The term is also used with reference to Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), Reactive Attachment Disorder and other conditions. There is an effort within some sectors of the mental health community to rename Borderline Personality Disorder as either "Emotional Dysregulation Disorder" or "Emotional Dysregulatory Disorder" in the DSM and ICD-10.

Treatment for emotional dysregulation must address the underlying cause. For example, attachment-based treatment interventions may be appropriate for children or adolescents suffering from emotional dysregulation such as is found in Reactive Attachment Disorder or Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.