Expert: Joyce A. Anthony - 10/20/2008

Question
I HAVE A 4 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WHO ABOUT ONE WEEK OUT OF THE MONTH GOES NUTS AT THE DROP OF A HAT. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR ABOUT A YEAR. FOR EX. WE WENT TO TOWN THE OTHER DAY WE WENT TO EAT-HOBBY LOBBY- K-MART THEN THE DOLLAR TREE. MY 4 YR OLD ASK IF WE WERE GOING TO WALMART. I SAID NOT TODAY SHE WENT CRAZY HITTING ME YELLING IN ANGER AND THROoH HER SHOE ACROSS THE ISLE AND KNOCKED OVER A SHELVE. WE ARE A VERY CLOSE FAMILY SPEND ALOT OF TIME TOGETHER PLAY GAMES, READING, PLAYING OUT SIDE, WORKING IN THE GARDEN, ETC. WE HAVE READ ABOUT AND TRIED EVERY FORM OF DISCEPLINE WE CAN FIND FROM TAKING AWAY TOYS TO A GOOD OLD FASHIONED SPANKING NOTHING WORK. I HAVE A SEROTONIN DISORDER MINE BOTTOMS OUT DURING MY CYCLE. I AM ON PROZAC 40MG qd AND ATIVAN .5mcg ONCE A WEEK. I THINK BACK AS A CHILD AS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM OF HATE AND ANGER FOR NO REASON. I SEE MYSELF ALL OVER HER AND DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. TODAY SHE GOT UPSET BECAUSE IT WAS NAP TIME AND SHE  HAD A KICKING, SCREAMING, THOWING THING FIT FROM 1:00 TO 4:45 LITERATLY NON STOP. THIS ORIGINALLY BEGAN WHEN SHE STARTED CRAWLING. SHE WOULD BANG HER HEAD ON THE FLOOR, CABINETS OR WHATEVER SHE COULD WE THOUGHT THIS WAS JUST A FAZE BUT NOW WE'RE NOT SURE IT SEEMS TO BE GETTING WORSE EVERYTIME WE HAVE A SPELL COULD IT BE A CHEMICAL INBALANCE SUCH AS SEROTONIN OR BIPOLAR DISORDER.......PLEASE HELP.........

Answer
Hi Melissa:

This could very well be a mood disorder, especially with your history.  I would suggest making an appointment with a child psychiatrist to have your daughter evaluated.

In the meantime, keep track of your daughter's mood cycles.  This will help the professional determine what may be occurring.  What you describe sounds very much like a mood disorder.

                         Joyce A. Anthony