Study shows assessing temper loss in preschool years could predict psychopathology

Irritability, which is easily apparent in the preschool years, doesn't necessarily lead to psychopathology. However, it is present in various forms of mental illness, and because it falls along a spectrum, is a precursor to mental illness. The problem for researchers is to be able to use a dimensional, rather than a diagnostic, approach to tell when a young child needs clinical intervention.