Study: Millions May Have Rage Disorder
Study: Millions May Have Rage Disorder
Up to 16 Million U.S. Adults May Have Ever Had 'Intermittent Explosive Disorder'
June 5, 2006 -- A rage disorder called intermittent explosive disorder may be more common in the U.S. than previously thought.
As many as 16 million American adults may have had the disorder at some point, depending on how it is defined, according to a study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry.
The study’s researchers included Ronald Kessler, PhD, of Harvard Medical School’s department of health care policy. A previous study -- done in 2004 by other experts -- showed a lifetime prevalence of 4% for the condition.
“Intermittent explosive disorder is a much more common condition than previously recognized,” write Kessler and colleagues.
The disorder typically starts at age 14 and is often followed by other mental healthmental health problems, the researchers note. They call for early detection, outreach, and treatment -- possibly starting in schools.
Kessler’s study is based on in-person interviews with 9,282 adults, done for a 2001-2003 national survey.
With intermittent explosive disorder, Kessler’s team wasn’t talking about normal feelings of anger. Those suffering from the disorder reacted with an anger grossly out of proportion to the situation triggering it, they note.
They defined the condition as involving at least three incidents over a lifetime of anger attacks in which physical harm was done to other people or to property.
To qualify as intermittent explosive disorder, those attacks must not have been linked to drugs, alcohol, or conditions such as depressiondepression.
Survey questions included how often participants had experienced anger attacks in which they:
The survey presents a snapshot of the prevalence of the rage disorder. It doesn’t show whether the condition has become more common over time.
Kessler’s team reports that between 5.4% and 7.3% of survey participants had had intermittent explosive disorder at some point in their life. Those percentages translate into 11.5 million to 16 million lifetime cases nationwide.
Study: Millions May Have Rage Disorder
Up to 16 Million U.S. Adults May Have Ever Had 'Intermittent Explosive Disorder'
June 5, 2006 -- A rage disorder called intermittent explosive disorder may be more common in the U.S. than previously thought.
As many as 16 million American adults may have had the disorder at some point, depending on how it is defined, according to a study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry.
The study’s researchers included Ronald Kessler, PhD, of Harvard Medical School’s department of health care policy. A previous study -- done in 2004 by other experts -- showed a lifetime prevalence of 4% for the condition.
“Intermittent explosive disorder is a much more common condition than previously recognized,” write Kessler and colleagues.
The disorder typically starts at age 14 and is often followed by other mental healthmental health problems, the researchers note. They call for early detection, outreach, and treatment -- possibly starting in schools.
Rage Quiz
Kessler’s study is based on in-person interviews with 9,282 adults, done for a 2001-2003 national survey.
With intermittent explosive disorder, Kessler’s team wasn’t talking about normal feelings of anger. Those suffering from the disorder reacted with an anger grossly out of proportion to the situation triggering it, they note.
They defined the condition as involving at least three incidents over a lifetime of anger attacks in which physical harm was done to other people or to property.
To qualify as intermittent explosive disorder, those attacks must not have been linked to drugs, alcohol, or conditions such as depressiondepression.
Survey questions included how often participants had experienced anger attacks in which they:
- Lost control and broke or smashed something worth more than a few dollars
- Lost control and hit or tried to hurt someone
- Lost control and threatened to hit or hurt someone
The survey presents a snapshot of the prevalence of the rage disorder. It doesn’t show whether the condition has become more common over time.
Rage Results
Kessler’s team reports that between 5.4% and 7.3% of survey participants had had intermittent explosive disorder at some point in their life. Those percentages translate into 11.5 million to 16 million lifetime cases nationwide.
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