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Cognitive-behavioral therapy for intermittent explosive disorder: a pilot randomized clinical trial
Michael S McCloskey1, Kurtis L Noblett, Jerry L Deffenbacher
1The University of Chicago, Department of Psychiatry, Chicago, IL 60637, USA. mmcclosk@yoda.bsd.uchicago.edu
Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology
|October 8, 2008
Summary
Cognitive-behavioral therapy, including group and individual formats, effectively reduces aggression and anger in adults with intermittent explosive disorder (IED). These positive outcomes for IED treatment were sustained at a 3-month follow-up.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Intermittent explosive disorder (IED) is characterized by recurrent aggressive outbursts.
- No prior randomized clinical trials have established the efficacy of psychotherapy for IED.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of 12-week group and individual cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBT) for adults with IED.
- To compare CBT interventions against a wait-list control group.
Main Methods:
- A randomized clinical trial involving 45 adults diagnosed with IED.
- Assessment of aggression, anger, hostile thinking, and depressive symptoms at baseline, midtreatment, posttreatment, and 3-month follow-up.
Main Results:
- Both group and individual CBT significantly reduced aggression, anger, hostile thinking, and depressive symptoms compared to the wait-list control.
- Improvements in anger control were observed in the CBT groups.
- Large effect sizes were noted posttreatment, with sustained benefits at follow-up.
Conclusions:
- Multicomponent cognitive-behavioral therapy demonstrates initial efficacy in treating intermittent explosive disorder.
- Group and individual CBT formats appear comparably effective for managing IED symptoms.
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