Anger attacks and treatment nonadherence in a perinatal psychiatry clinic

Anger attacks are common in depressive disorders. High levels of anger have been associated with treatment nonadherence in medical and psychiatric patients. In this study we examined the relationship between anger attacks and treatment nonadherence in a perinatal psychiatry clinic that treats pregnant and postpartum women. Treatment adherence was examined by chart review. Patients with anger attacks at initial assessment were more likely to drop out of treatment than were patients without anger attacks at initial assessment (11/34 vs. 2/21; one-tailed Fisher's exact test p < .05). Treatment nonadherence among pregnant and postpartum women with anger attacks may be an important problem because of its impact on treatment outcome and because anger in depressed mothers is frequently directed at their children.