Anxiety management training and anger control for type A individuals

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Behavioral Medicine
• Cardiology

Background:

• Type A behavior pattern is linked to increased coronary heart disease risk.
• Stress management interventions are explored for modifying Type A behaviors.
• The effectiveness of single-method approaches requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if stress management training reduces Type A behaviors in coronary-prone individuals.
• To evaluate the efficacy of a single-method anger management approach.
• To explore mechanisms underlying behavioral change.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a modified version of Suinn's Anxiety Management Training.
• Focused specifically on anger management techniques.
• Assessed changes using the Jenkins Activity Survey for Type A behaviors.

Main Results:

• Significant reductions in Type A inventory scores were observed post-treatment.
• The anger management intervention effectively diminished Type A behaviors.
• Hypotheses suggested increased control or negative reinforcement of Type B behaviors.

Conclusions:

• Anger/hostility is a key therapeutic target for modifying coronary-prone behaviors.
• A narrow-focus, single-method intervention appears efficient and effective.
• Targeted stress management can lead to positive behavioral changes in at-risk populations.