Anger and depression--theoretical and clinical considerations

The Freudian idea of inhibited anger being central to the pathogenesis of depression has been one of the cornerstones of psychiatric thinking. The aim of this article is to review the literature on psychotherapy theory and the relevant research with regard to the association of anger and depression, and to discuss clinical implications in treating depressive patients. Choice of research articles was based on systematic search of databases. Psychotherapy theories are mostly found in books not included in databases. Literature on psychotherapy theory was selectively chosen. Over-control, under-control and mixtures of the two may be present in depression, indicating problems in anger regulation. The links between anger and depression form a complex network. When treating patients with depression, explicit or implicit dealing with anger often seems to be helpful. In clinical reality, the relative amounts of elicitation of anger experience and training in expressive control needed by depressive patients may vary between different types of patients, different phases of depressive disorder, and different phases of therapy.