Intermittent Explosive Disorder Test
A confidential self-assessment informed by the DSM-5-TR criteria for intermittent explosive disorder, a pattern of impulsive anger outbursts that feel out of proportion to what set them off. In a few minutes you get an instant result and a plain-language PDF report you can keep or bring to a therapist. Anger that feels out of control is treatable, and looking at it honestly is a strong first step.
What sets explosive anger apart
Most people lose their temper sometimes. Intermittent explosive disorder is defined by a specific pattern, and this screener looks at the features clinicians weigh: how impulsive the outbursts are, how out of proportion, and what they cost.
Frequency and form
How often outbursts happen, whether they are verbal blow-ups, aggression toward objects, or physical aggression, and whether they come on fast with little warning.
Impulsivity and proportion
The core of the disorder: outbursts that are impulsive and anger-driven rather than planned, and that are clearly out of proportion to whatever triggered them.
Distress and fallout
What the outbursts leave behind: regret afterward, strained relationships, trouble at work, legal or financial consequences, and the sense that the anger is not under your control.
| Feature | Typical free quiz | Psychology.com |
|---|---|---|
| Based on DSM-5-TR IED criteria | Vaguely | Yes, faithful to the criteria |
| Separates impulsive from planned anger | Rarely | Yes, a core distinction |
| Measures proportion to triggers | Often missed | Yes, central to the result |
| Captures distress and consequences | No | Yes, regret and fallout |
| Clinician-reviewed interpretation | Rarely | Yes, reviewed |
| Downloadable PDF report | No | Yes, branded & shareable |
| Confidential (no data sent) | Often tracked | Runs in your browser |
Methodology & sources
This test is an educational screener informed by the DSM-5-TR criteria for intermittent explosive disorder (IED). The criteria describe recurrent behavioral outbursts reflecting a failure to control aggressive impulses, shown either as frequent verbal or non-damaging aggression (on average twice a week for three months) or as a smaller number of more serious outbursts involving damage or injury (three within a year). The aggression must be impulsive and anger-based rather than premeditated, grossly out of proportion to the trigger, cause distress or impairment, and not be better explained by another condition. Our items adapt these features into plain-language statements rated from 0 (never) to 3 (often or always), giving a total from 0 to 42. This is an educational screener, not a validated diagnostic instrument, and the bands are descriptive rather than official cutoffs.
This test is provided for education and self-reflection. It is not a diagnosis. Intermittent explosive disorder is diagnosed by a qualified clinician, who looks at the full pattern over time and rules out other explanations such as substance use, mania, or other conditions that can drive anger. If your result concerns you, treat it as a prompt to reach out, not as a label. If your anger is leading to harm, to yourself, to others, or to your relationships, please seek help; effective treatment exists and it works.
- Coccaro EF, Kavoussi RJ. Development of a neuropharmacologically based behavioral assessment of impulsive aggressive behavior. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci. 1997;9(2):251–254.
- Coccaro EF, Berman ME, McCloskey MS. Development of a screening questionnaire for DSM-5 intermittent explosive disorder (IED-SQ). Compr Psychiatry. 2017;74:21–26.
- American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR). Washington, DC: APA; 2022.
Intermittent Explosive Disorder Test FAQ
What is an intermittent explosive disorder test?
It is a short, educational screener informed by the DSM-5-TR criteria for intermittent explosive disorder. It looks at how often you have impulsive anger outbursts, how out of proportion they are to what triggers them, and what they cost you. It produces a descriptive result, not a diagnosis.
How is IED different from just having a temper?
Everyone gets angry, and many people occasionally lose their temper. Intermittent explosive disorder is a recurring pattern of outbursts that are impulsive rather than planned, clearly out of proportion to the trigger, and cause real distress or damage to relationships, work, or property. The defining features are the loss of control and the disproportionate intensity.
Is the anger planned or impulsive?
In IED the outbursts are impulsive and driven by anger in the moment, not calculated to achieve a goal. If aggression is planned, used to intimidate, or serves a clear purpose, that points away from IED and toward something a clinician would assess differently. This screener focuses on the impulsive, regret-the-next-moment kind of anger.
Is this test a diagnosis?
No. It is for education and self-reflection only. Intermittent explosive disorder can only be diagnosed by a qualified clinician, who looks at the full pattern over time and rules out other causes. If your results concern you, consider reaching out to a therapist.
Can explosive anger be treated?
Yes. Cognitive behavioral therapy, including anger management and skills for tolerating frustration and slowing down impulses, has good evidence for IED. Some people also benefit from medication. Most people who get help see real, lasting improvement, and their relationships improve with them.