Skip to main content
OpenTrials
Completed

NCT Number: NCT00667212

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.

Completed

Looking for future studies?

Notify Me

Key information

Conditions

Anger Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders Intermittent Explosive Disorder Mental Disorders

Age range

18 year–55 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

University of Chicago

Chicago, Illinois, 60637, United States

About this study

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).

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

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.)

Treatment and study plan

Cognitive behavioral therapy

Behavioral

Twelve weekly therapy sessions, approximately one hour each in duration

Other names: Cognitive Restructuring, Relaxation, and Coping Skills Training

supportive psychotherapy

Behavioral

Twelve weekly therapy sessions, approximately one hour each in duration

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in Overt Aggression Scale - Modified (OASM) Score

    Time frame: Up to 12 months

    Items are scored on a 5-point scale. Higher scores indicate higher levels of aggression.

  2. Change in State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory - Trait Anger Scale [STAXI-2]

    Time frame: Up to 12 months

    Items are scored on a 4-point scale. Higher scores indicate high levels of anger.

  3. Change in Hostile Automatic Thoughts (HAT) Scale

    Time frame: Up to 12 months

    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.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Change in Self-Report of Aggression and Social Behavior Measure (SRASBM) Score

    Time frame: Up to 12 months

    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

  2. Change in Social Information Processing-Attribution and Emotional Response Questionnaire (SIP-AEQ) Score

    Time frame: Up to 12 months

    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.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Chicago

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Individual Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapy for Intermittent Explosive Disorder

Important dates

Study start
2006
Primary completion
2010
Study completion
2010
First posted
Apr 28, 2008
Registry last updated
Aug 19, 2024

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Related clinical trials

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.