A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Efficacy of a Cognitive‐Behavioural Anger Management Group for Clients with Learning Disabilities

Background Fourteen clients with learning disabilities referred for anger management were randomly assigned to a treatment group and a waiting‐list control group. Methods Treatment consisted of nine 2‐h group sessions, using brainstorming, role‐play and homework. Topics addressed included: the triggers that evoke anger; physiological and behavioural components of anger; behavioural and cognitive strategies to avoid the build‐up of anger and for coping with anger‐provoking situations; and acceptable ways of displaying anger (assertiveness). The intervention was evaluated using two inventories of anger‐provoking situations, which were completed independently by both clients and carers. Results Clients in the treated group improved, on both self‐ and carer‐ratings, relative to their own pre‐treatment scores, and to the control group post‐treatment. The within‐group improvement corresponds to a ‘moderate’ (0.68 SD) effect size, whereas the between‐group improvement corresponds to a ‘large’ (1.76 SD) effect size. The degree of improvement during treatment was strongly correlated with Verbal IQ. Clients in the treated group showed further improvement relative to their own pre‐treatment scores at 3‐month follow‐up. Conclusions The treatment was effective in decreasing anger, in this randomized controlled trial of routine clinical practice.