Citation

Oberleitner LM, Mandel DL, Easton CJ. J. Subst. Abuse Treat. 2013; 45(3): 313-318.

Affiliation

Division of Substance Abuse, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06511 USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jsat.2013.03.001

PMID

23856602

Abstract

The purpose of the current study was to examine the role of high self-reported anger on violence and substance use across treatment. Seventy-three, alcohol-dependent males, with a domestic violence arrest within the past year, completed baseline anger measures and engaged in a 12week cognitive behavioral therapy or 12 step facilitation group. Monthly assessments of substance use and violence were completed. At baseline, participants high on anger expression reported more physical violence in the prior month and more violent arrests. Participants high on anger expression had a greater proportion of positive breathalyzers across treatment, higher frequency of reported drug use across treatment, and higher reported frequency of verbal violence at discharge. These findings suggests that participants who are high on anger expression may need longer-term or more intensive treatments to maintain gains made during treatment because of the increased risk of relapse to both substance use and violence.

Language: en