Problem anger can be addressed by psychological support and therapy by helping individuals change their way of thinking or behaving in response to situations which trigger their anger.1, 6, 19, 20 Increasing a person’s motivation to change is also an important part of treatment.21, 22
The most common therapies to treat problem anger are cognitive behavioural therapy, relaxation-skills training and life-skills training. Family- or relationship-based therapy can also improve communication and rebuild relationships affected by problem anger.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) helps the person to change unhelpful thoughts and behaviours which can contribute to their anger, and aims to build skills to manage problem anger in an ongoing way. Cognitive reappraisal, where the person changes his or her interpretation of an event (e.g., seeing a driver who cuts them off as possibly rushing to an important appointment rather than purposefully holding them up) is particularly helpful in reducing or preventing angry responses.21, 23-26
Problem-solving, which helps the person identify problem situations that might trigger an angry response, and finding effective solutions can lead to lower levels of problem anger.19, 27
Relaxation-skills training helps to decrease tension in the body, which can be an important first step in addressing anger problems.21, 28
Communication-skills training helps the person to learn and practice calmer ways of handling situations which typically trigger an angry response by using real or role-played situations. 21, 29, 30 Such training may focus on skills such as compromise and negotiation, to improve conflict resolution and how to respectfully and calmly express their anger.31
Family- or relationship-based interventions can help families, couples or others in a relationship increase their understanding of a person’s anger and its negative consequences.21 Family-based interventions can help improve communication, conflict resolution and problem-solving skills, break cycles of anger and aggression, and increase the sharing of positive emotions, rather than anger.31