Misophonia is an underinvestigated condition often typified as an extreme sensitivity to specific, low volume sounds and images that elicit an intense physiological and emotional response (Jastreboff and Jastreboff, 2002, 2014; Edelstein et al., 2013; Schröder et al., 2013; Wu et al., 2014; Cavanna and Seri, 2015; Dozier, 2015a, 2017).

While misophonia has been described as a distinct psychiatric disorder that should be delineated as such (Schröder et al., 2013), Taylor (2017) proposed that extensive research is needed before such a conclusion is warranted. Symptomatology of misophonia intersects to some extent with that of several other recognized psychiatric disorders including but not limited to: specific phobia, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), sensory processing disorder (SPD), and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, misophonia symptoms are not sufficiently captured by any diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5 (DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association, 2013; Bernstein et al., 2013). For a description of diagnostic differentials, the reader is referred to (Schröder et al., 2013). We support Taylor's (2017) call for research to accurately characterize misophonia as a disorder or features of another syndrome, but we also propose there is a pressing need to include the findings of recent research in diagnostic criteria for misophonia, regardless of whether misophonia is a distinct psychiatric, neurological, medical, or behavioral disorder, or a component of another disorder.

Although the prevalence of misophonia has yet to be formally determined, research suggests that it is not a rare condition. In a study that included a nonclinical sample of 483 undergraduate students, nearly 20% experienced clinically significant misophonia symptoms (Wu et al., 2014). In another study Schröder et al. (2017) reported that in a recent 5-year period, the center had over 500 misophonia patient referrals, further highlighting the prevalence of misophonia and the need to establish an accurate description of this condition. Collectively, the 3 authors have treated over 600 patients in the past 4 years. Presently, there are several relevant Facebook groups, of which one, the Misophonia Support Group, has over 15,000 members.

Establishment of standardized diagnostic criteria is needed to increase recognition, advance empirical science, and inform clinical practice (Schröder et al., 2013; Cavanna and Seri, 2015; Taylor, 2017), including assessment and treatment of misophonia. Schröder et al. (2013) proposed diagnostic criteria for misophonia as a distinct psychiatric disorder based on an extensive evaluation of 42 patients. Subsequent research identifies several areas of clarification of misophonia which should be incorporated in a revision to the Schröder et al. (2013) criteria.

Drawing from the existing literature and clinical experience, and derived from Misophonia: Diagnostic Criteria for a New Psychiatric Disorder by Schröder et al. (2013), we propose the following criteria for identification and characterization of misophonia.

A review of the existing literature combined with clinical experience provides strong support for the aforementioned criteria for precisely identifying misophonia in clinical and research contexts. To facilitate effective research, diagnosis, and treatment, we suggest it is important to recognize that misophonia is a multi-sensory phenomenon and that it includes both an immediate elicited physical response and emotional responses, in addition to broad accompanying physiological responses. Although there is a need for further research into the characteristics and etiology of misophonia, we propose that misophonia be conceptualized as a conditioned aversive reflex disorder.

There is a pressing need for research into its processes, which may include the neural mechanism for the development of the initial physical response of misophonia, specifically stimulus-response classical conditioning (Donahoe and Vegas, 2004). Similarly, there exists important uncertainties each requiring scientific investigation and these include the syndromal boundaries of misophonia as they are identified and perhaps the breadth of a disorder of which misophonia may be a feature (Taylor, 2017).

That said, our experience in clinical practice supports a conclusion that early intervention often provides opportunity for quicker, more effective remediation (Dozier, 2017). Advancing the recognition of misophonia through clear, precise criteria provides an immediate and necessary benefit for those seeking therapeutic intervention.

Developed proposed diagnostic criteria: TD, ML, and CP. Wrote article: TD and ML. Edited article: CP.