Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-tf8b9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T10:35:22.473Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

A randomized controlled trial to assess an anger management group programme

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 March 2009

Farooq Naeem ,
Isabel Clarke  and
David Kingdon
Farooq Naeem*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Royal South Hants Hospital, Southampton, SO14 0YG, UK
Isabel Clarke
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Royal South Hants Hospital, Southampton, SO14 0YG, UK
David Kingdon
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Royal South Hants Hospital, Southampton, SO14 0YG, UK
*
*Address for correspondence: Dr F. Naeem, Department of Psychiatry, Royal South Hants Hospital, Southampton SO14 0YG, UK. (email: [email protected])
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

We describe the results of a randomized controlled trial to assess effectiveness of an anger management group programme, employing a cognitive behavioural framework that was run by the Psychology Service. The treatment group was compared with a control group on a waiting list. The trial was performed at the Southampton CBT Service. The treatment group received a cognitive behavioural anger management programme, initially based on Novaco's approach, but with further development of the motivational components. The control group received no treatment and was on a waiting list. The Novaco Anger Assessment Scale (NAS), State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI), Evaluative Beliefs Scale (EBS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) and the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluations (CORE) were used to measure anger, belief about self and others, anxiety and depression, and physical and psychological wellbeing. Clients in the anger management group showed statistically significant changes on STAXI, NAS, CORE and EBS subscales at the end of the therapy. The change in depression and anxiety on HAD (depression and anxiety) was not statistically significant. It was not possible to carry out analyses at follow-up due to high dropout rates. We concluded that an anger management programme using CBT was helpful in reducing anger and overall psychopathology.

Keywords

Anger managementbehaviour therapycognitive therapypsychological servicesrandomized controlled trial
Type
Original Research
Information
the Cognitive Behaviour Therapist , Volume 2 , Issue 1 , March 2009 , pp. 20 - 31
Copyright
Copyright © British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Awalt, RM, Reilly, PM, Shopshire, MS (1997). The angry patient: an intervention for managing anger in substance abuse treatment. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs 29, 353–358.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Beck, R, Fernandez, E (1998). Cognitive behaviour therapy in the treatment of anger: A meta-analysis. Cognitive Therapy and Research 22, 63–74.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bradbury, KE, Clarke, I(2006). Cognitive behavioural therapy for anger management: effectiveness in adult mental health services. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy 35, 201–208.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chadwick, P, Trower, P, Dagnan, D (1999). Measuring negative person evaluations: the Evaluative Beliefs Scale. Cognitive Therapy and Research 23, 549–559.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
CORE System Handbook (1998). CORE System Group. The Psychological Therapies Research Centre, University of Leeds.Google Scholar
Davis, DL, Boster, LH (1992). Cognitive-behavioral-expressive interventions with aggressive and resistant youths. Child Welfare 71, 557–573.Google ScholarPubMed
Deffenbacher, JL, Dahlen, ER, Lynch, RS, Morris, CD, Gowensmith, WN (2000). An application of Beck's cognitive therapy to general anger reduction. Cognitive Therapy and Research 24, 689–697.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Del Vecchio, T, O'Leary, KD (2004). The effectiveness of anger treatments for specific anger problems: a meta-analytic review. Clinical Psychology Review 24, 15–34.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
DiGiuseppe, R, Tafrate, R (2003). Anger treatment for adults: a meta-analytic review. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice 10, 70–84.Google Scholar
Dyer, I (2000). Cognitive behavioural group anger management for out-patients: a retrospective study. International Journal of Psychiatric Nursing Research 5, 602–621.Google ScholarPubMed
Edmondson, CB, Conger, C (1996). A review of treatment efficacy for individuals with anger problems: conceptual, assessment, and methodological issues. Clinical Psychology Review 16, 251–275.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Fetsch, RJ, Schultz, CJ, Wahler, JJ (1999). A preliminary evaluation of the Colorado RETHINK Parenting and Anger Management program. Child Abuse & Neglect 23, 353–360.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gerlock, AA (1994). Veterans' responses to anger management intervention. Issues in Mental Health Nursing 15, 393–408.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gilmour, K (1998). An anger management programme for adults with learning disabilities. International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders 33 (Suppl.), 403–408.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Holbrook, MI (1997). Anger management training in prison inmates. Psychological Reports. 81, 623–626.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jones, JP, Thomas-Peter, BA, Trout, A (1999). Normative data for the Novaco's Anger Scale from a non-clinical sample and implications for clinical use. British Journal of Clinical Psychology 38, 417–424.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kellner, MH, Bry, BH (1999). The effects of anger management groups in a day school for emotionally disturbed adolescents. Adolescence 34, 645–651.Google Scholar
Kellner, MH, Tutin, J (1995). A school-based anger management program for developmentally and emotionally disabled high school students. Adolescence 30, 813–825.Google ScholarPubMed
Larkin, KT, Zayfert, C (1996). Anger management training with mild essential hypertensive patients. Journal of Behavioural Medicine 19, 5415–433.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Meichenbaum, D (1985). Stress Inoculation Training. New York: Pergamon Press.Google Scholar
Novaco, RW (1975). Anger Control: The Development and Evaluation of an Experimental Treatment. Lexington: DC Health.Google Scholar
Novaco, RW (1976). Treatment of chronic anger through cognitive and relaxational controls. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 45, 600–608.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Novaco, RW (1994). Anger as a risk factor for violence among the mentally disordered. In: Violence and Mental Disorder: Developments in Risk Assessment, pp. 21–60. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.Google Scholar
Reilly, PM, Shopshire, MS (2000). Anger management group treatment for cocaine dependence: Preliminary outcomes. American Journal of Drug & Alcohol Abuse 26, 161–177.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Renwick, S, Black, L, Ramm, M, Novaco, RW (1997). Anger treatment for forensic hospital patients. Legal and Criminological Psychology 2, 103–116.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Siddle, R, Jones, F, Awenat, F (2003). Group cognitive behaviour therapy for anger: a pilot study. Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy 31, 69–83.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Snyder, KV, Kymissis, P, Kessler, K (1999). Anger management for adolescents: efficacy of brief group therapy. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 38, 1409–1423.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Spielberger, CD (1988). STAXI Professional Manual. State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory. Revised Research Edition. Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources Inc.Google Scholar
Spielberger, CD, Jacobs, G, Russell, S, Crane, RS (1983). Assessment of anger: the state-trait anger scale. In: Advances in Personality Assessment, vol. 2 (ed. Butcher, J. N and Spielberger, C. D.), pp. 161–186. Hillsdale, NJ: Lea.Google Scholar
Uomoto, JM, Brockway, JA (1992). Anger management training for brain injured patients and their family members. Archives of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation 73, 674–679.Google ScholarPubMed
Watt, BD, Howells, K (1999). Skills training for aggression control: evaluation of an anger management programme for violent offenders. Legal and Criminological Psychology 4, 285–300.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zigmond, AS, Snaith, RP (1983). The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale Manual. Windsor: NFER-Nelson Publishing Company.Google Scholar
Submit a response

Comments

No Comments have been published for this article.