An outcome study to determine the clinical effectiveness of an anger management program in an adult, rural Minnesota sample

The present research focuses on the efficacy of collecting outcome data in a systematic manner on one facet of treatment provided at the Five County Mental Health Centers Clinic in Braham, Minnesota. All adults referred to the anger management program between May 13, 2004 and April 1, 2005 were involved in a quasi-experimental study to determine the effectiveness of a ten week psychoeducational program offered through a rural community mental health center. Thirty subjects were classified into one of the three groups: court-ordered, self-referred, or other referred. Pre, mid, and post measures of both the State Trait Anger Expression Inventory-II (STAXI-II) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) were administered. Basic demographic information was also collected. A Multiple Analysis of Variance (MANOVA) was used to determine whether there were statistically significant differences in STAXI-II scores from pre treatment to mid treatment to post treatment. Interaction effects using a Multiple Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA) among gender, legal status, and level of depression were also explored. No statistically significant difference was found from pre treatment to mid treatment to post treatment among referral source, gender, and depression level. There were also no statistically significant interaction effects. A statistically significant increase was found, however, among all participants from pre treatment to mid treatment to post treatment administration of the STAXI-II within the dimension of Anger Control In (ACI). A Pearson's Product Moment Correlation Coefficient was generated to determine if a correlation existed between BDI scores and STAXI-II scores for all participants. Results suggest a moderately strong, positive correlation between baseline BDI and Anger Expression Out (AXO), Anger Expression In (AXI), and the Anger Expression Index (AXIND). Results also suggest a moderately strong negative correlation between baseline BDI score and baseline ACI for all participants. Implications of these results are discussed. Recommendations for further research include continuing this study to increase sample size and/or combining this study with other area anger management programs. Recommendations are also made for the design of an anger experience and expression instrument that includes validity measures.