de Bles NJ, Rius Ottenheim N, van Hemert AM, Pütz LEH, van der Does AJW, Penninx BWJH, Giltay EJ. Trait anger and anger attacks in relation to depressive and anxiety disorders.
J Affect Disord 2019;
259:259-265. [PMID:
31450135 DOI:
10.1016/j.jad.2019.08.023]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Revised: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 08/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Patients with various psychiatric disorders may suffer from feelings of anger, sometimes leading to maladaptive (e.g., aggressive) behaviors. We examined to what extent depressive and anxiety disorders, relevant clinical correlates, and sociodemographics determined the level of trait anger and the prevalence of recent anger attacks.
METHODS
In the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA), the Spielberger Trait Anger Subscale and the Anger Attacks Questionnaire were analyzed in patients with depressive (n = 204), anxiety (n = 288), comorbid (n = 222), and remitted disorders (n = 1,107), as well as in healthy controls (n = 470) based on DSM-IV criteria.
RESULTS
On average, participants were 46.2 years old (SD = 13.1) and 66.3% were female. Trait anger and anger attacks were most prevalent in the comorbid group (M = 18.5, SD = 5.9, and prevalence 22.1%), followed by anxiety disorder, depressive disorder, remitted disorder, and controls (M = 12.7; SD = 2.9, and prevalence 1.3%). Major depressive disorder, social phobia, panic disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder were most strongly associated to trait anger and anger attacks.
LIMITATIONS
Due to a cross-sectional design, it was not possible to provide evidence for temporal or causal relationships between anger and depressive and anxiety disorders.
CONCLUSIONS
Trait anger and anger attacks are linked to depressive and anxiety disorders, although the strength of the relationship differed among both anger constructs.
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