Anger Disorders: Basic Science and Practice Issues

Anger plays a significant role in everyday life. Sometimes it is shortlived, moderate in intensity, and, perhaps, even helpful. At other times it is persistent, severe, and highly disruptive. Overt anger can lead to negative evaluations by others, a negative self-concept, low self-esteem, interpersonal and family conflict, verbal and physical assault, property destruction, and occupational maladjustment (Deffenbacher, 1992). Suppressed anger is related to a number of medical conditions including essential hypertension, coronary artery disease, and cancer (Greer & Morris, 1975; Harburg, Gleiberman, Russell, & Cooper, 199 1 ; Harburg, Blakelock, & Roeper, 1979; Kalis, Harris, Bennett, & Sokolow, 1961; Spielberger, Crane, Kearns, Pellegrin, & Rickman, 1991). These detrimental effects of anger have been known for a long time. More than 60 years ago, Meltzer (1933) reported that, “Anger has been called the worst propensity of human nature, the father and mother of craft, cruelty, and intrigue, and the chief enemy of public happiness and private peace” (p. 285). More recently, Dix ( 199 1 ) concluded that even the common experience of parenting is constantly associated with anger. He noted that, “. . . average parents report high levels of anger with their children, the need to engage in techniques to control their anger, and fear that they will at some time lose control and harm their children” (p. 3). Anger is also a frequent experience. According to Averill (1 983), “Depending upon how records are kept, most people report becoming mildly to moderately angry anywhere from several times a day to several times a week (Anastasi, Cohen, & Spatz, 1948; Averill, 1979, 1982; Gates, 1926; Meltzer, 1933; Richardson, 1918)” (p. 1146). His reference list spans 75 years, suggesting stability of the anger experience as well as the everyday frequency. Given these observations, it is no surprise that anger is a common reason that leads people to seek professional help.