Psychotherapy for Intermittent Explosive Disorder

Individual Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy for Intermittent Explosive Disorder

The goal of this study is to examine the effectiveness two forms of psychotherapy (also known as "talk therapy" ) for individuals with anger and aggression problems. Anger and aggression are everywhere - on the road, in the schools, at little league games, at home, and at work. In this study we are testing usefulness of anger management techniques in reducing symptoms of Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED) and impulsive, aggressive behavior.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Anger; Intermittent Explosive Disorder
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Supportive Psychotherapy; Behavioral: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Detailed Description

Qualified participants will be randomly assigned to 12 1-hour sessions of either cognitive-behavioral therapy or supportive psychotherapy.

Participation in this study will require 13 visits over approximately 4 months with a 3 follow-up session. Therapy is provided at no cost and each study participant will receive a comprehensive psychological assessment. Two types of talk therapy are being offered in this study. One form of therapy focuses on thought and behaviors associated with anger and aggression. This type of therapy is known as cognitive behavioral therapy. The other type of therapy focuses on the individuals' feeling about their anger /aggression and the situations that lead to this anger. This is known as supportive therapy. The form of therapy you are given will be randomly determined (like by flipping of a coin).

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 44
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Illinois
    • Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60637
      • University of Chicago

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 55 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Have problems with anger, temper outbursts, being irritable, getting in trouble at work or at home because of impulsive/aggressive behavior.
• Between the ages of 18 and 55.
• Meet other eligibility requirements as outlined by the research protocol.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Lifetime diagnosis of psychosis or bipolar disorder
• Current diagnosis of substance dependence or major depressive disorder.
• Current suicidal or homicidal ideation,
• Recent use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (past month) or other psychotropic medication (past two months)
• Recent psychotherapy for aggression (past six months.)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Factorial Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: 2; Supportive Psychotherapy	Behavioral: Supportive Psychotherapy; Twelve weekly therapy sessions, approximately one hour each in duration
Active Comparator: 1; Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (Cognitive Restructuring, Relaxation, and Coping Skills Training: CRCST)	Behavioral: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Twelve weekly therapy sessions, approximately one hour each in duration; Other Names: Cognitive Restructuring, Relaxation, and Coping Skills Training

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Overt Aggression Scale - Modified (OASM) Score	Items are scored on a 5-point scale. Higher scores indicate higher levels of aggression.	Up to 12 months
Change in State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory - Trait Anger Scale [STAXI-2]	Items are scored on a 4-point scale. Higher scores indicate high levels of anger.	Up to 12 months
Change in Hostile Automatic Thoughts (HAT) Scale	Each item is answered on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from 0=not at all to 5=all the time. Higher scores indicate higher frequency of hostile thoughts experienced.	Up to 12 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Self-Report of Aggression and Social Behavior Measure (SRASBM) Score	Items are scored on a 7-point scale to indicate how truthfully the statement describes personal experiences during the past year, ranging from 0=not at all true to 7=very true. Higher scores indicate high levels of aggression	Up to 12 months
Change in Social Information Processing-Attribution and Emotional Response Questionnaire (SIP-AEQ) Score	Items are scored on a 0-3 Likert scale (0 = not at all likely to 3 = extremely likely). Higher scores indicate higher levels of hostility.	Up to 12 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Chicago
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Michael McCloskey, PhD, University of Chicago

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: August 1, 2006
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 1, 2010
• Study Completion (Actual): December 1, 2010

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 24, 2008
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 24, 2008
• First Posted (Estimated): April 28, 2008

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): August 19, 2024
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 14, 2024
• Last Verified: August 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: intermittent; anger; explosive
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders
• Other Study ID Numbers: 15143A