ABSTRACT
Aggressive acts have often been considered manifestations of a mental disorder. The purpose of this chapter is to examine how the field has categorized or explained such acts in terms of clinically relevant constructs, with a special focus on changes over the past century. In addition, evolving views on intermittent explosive disorder, conduct disorder, and antisocial personality disorder are considered within the context of changes in diagnostic criteria across different editions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. We also examine popular views on aggression and psychopathology. Finally, treatment for aggression-focused disorders and future research directions is discussed.
