What differentiates Intermittent Explosive Disorder from other aggression-related disorders?

Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED) is characterized by recurrent episodes of impulsive aggression that manifest as disproportionate responses to various triggers or stressors. In IED, individuals often experience intense rage or fury that is not aligned with the event that provoked it, which means that their aggressive reactions are markedly excessive compared to what might be considered a typical or expected response. This distinct aspect of IED sets it apart from other aggression-related disorders, where responses may be more measured or in line with a perceived threat.

In contrast, the other options describe characteristics that do not accurately reflect IED. For instance, if aggression were always premeditated or if outbursts were generally planned, these would suggest a different type of aggression-related disorder, not IED. Additionally, labeling symptoms as always mild contradicts the nature of IED, which involves severe and impactful behavioral outbursts. Therefore, the essence of this disorder lies in the disproportionate nature of the aggressive episodes, which firmly supports why this choice is correct.