Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Youth With Severe Mood Dysregulation

Inclusion Criteria: * Male and female subjects, ages 12 to 17 years, who meet criteria for severe mood dysregulation (SMD) as defined by NIMH criteria or for disruptive mood dysregulation disorder (DMDD). * Subject has an estimated IQ \>70 on the Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test (KBIT- * Subjects will have continuously resided with a legal guardian who has known the adolescent well for at least one year before study entry and is legally able to sign the consent form. * Children's Global Assessment Scale (CGAS) ≤ 60 * CGI-S (SMD) ≥ 4 * Participant and guardian must agree to have therapy sessions audiotaped for training purposes. Exclusion Criteria: * Subject poses a significant risk for dangerousness to self or others. Risk will be determined by clinical history, clinical diagnostic interview and KSADS-PL interview of parent and patient by clinician. * Subject suffers from a concomitant medical or psychiatric comorbidity that makes this study protocol inadvisable (either the treatment is contraindicated or the disorder is not the primary focus of treatment). * Subject meets DSM-IV criteria for current alcohol or substance dependence or current use (defined as the past 4 weeks). * Primary caretaker does not speak English or is not capable of completing study measures. * Pregnant females.