Look no further than you tube to see classic temper tantrums. An experience that baffles parents. "Clearly they are trying to get something out of their mind or their mouths that they can't quite express," mother Corrie Marks told Ivanhoe. "It's very frustrating. I feel helpless sometimes," said mother Colleen Varadian.

But there are differences between the normal turn of temper and something more serious.

"There were parameters that could be looked at that were markers of more severe, more clinically significant tantrums," Joan Luby, M.D., Psychiatric Epidemiologist at Washington University in St. Louis, Mo., told Ivanhoe.

Red flags include five or more tantrums a day for several consecutive days, tantrums lasting more than 20 minutes, an inability to calm themselves after a tantrum and extremely aggressive behavior directed at a caregiver, an object or themselves during tantrums.

"Depressed children in particular were hurting themselves banging their head against the walls, biting themselves, scratching themselves on average one time per tantrum," Andy Belden, Ph.D., Epidemiologist at Washington University told Ivanhoe.

Unfortunately, even sweet kids will act out once in a while, so don't panic if this happens. But if you see the signs, it's better to get help now. Put an end to the screaming and help calm any future problems for you and your child.

If you would like more information, please contact:
Judy Martin
Washington University Medical School
Public Relations
Martinju@msnotes.wustl.edu
(314) 286-0199