Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Aggressive Behavior: Treatment by Group Psychotherapy

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:
Handbook of Anger, Aggression, and Violence

  • 61 Accesses

Abstract

Anger and aggression are strongly related to each other, and interventions targeting them have mainly been performed in the group context. This chapter gives an overview of available group psychotherapies from different psychotherapeutic backgrounds targeting anger and aggression in patients with psychiatric disorders at high risk for aggressive behaviors, including treatments especially developed for patients with borderline personality disorder. Strengths and limitations of the current research on the effectiveness of these treatments are highlighted, and an emphasis is placed on which treatment elements are most likely to target effective mechanisms of change and thereby to bring about clinical improvement. The chapter goes on to present new integrative, modular, and mechanism-based approaches to group psychotherapy designed to reduce anger and aggression which could serve as a model for future research and practice. Future research should not only include large samples and carefully selected comparator groups but should also investigate what is effective in whom.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 899.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 899.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Abbreviations

ASPD:

Antisocial personality disorder

BPD:

Borderline personality disorder

CBT:

Cognitive behavioral therapy

CRCST:

Cognitive restructuring, relaxation, and coping skills training

DBT:

Dialectical behavior therapy

DTC:

Democratic therapeutic community treatment

EMI:

Ecological momentary intervention

IGP:

Intensive Group Program

MAAP:

Mechanism-based anti-aggression psychotherapy

MBT:

Mentalization-based therapy

NSSP:

Nonspecific supportive psychotherapy

OAS-M:

Overt Aggression Scale-Modified

RAAP:

RAMAS Anger Assessment Profile

SCL-90-R:

Symptom Checklist 90 R

SCM:

Structured clinical management

STAXI-2:

State Trait Anger Expression Inventory 2

TAU:

Treatment as usual

WLST:

Williams Life Skills Training

References

  • Bateman A, Fonagy P (2016) Mentalization based treatment for personality disorders: a practical guide. Oxford University Press, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Bateman A, O’Connell J, Lorenzini N, Gardner T, Fonagy P (2016) A randomised controlled trial of mentalization-based treatment versus structured clinical management for patients with comorbid borderline personality disorder and antisocial personality disorder. BMC Psychiatry 16:304. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-016-1000-9

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Bertsch K, Florange J, Herpertz SC (2020) Understanding brain mechanisms of reactive aggression. Curr Psychiatry Rep 22(12):81. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-020-01208-6

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Blair RJR (2012) Considering anger from a cognitive neuroscience perspective. Wiley Interdiscip Rev Cogn Sci 3(1):65–74. https://doi.org/10.1002/wcs.154

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Buss AH, Perry M (1992) The aggression questionnaire. J Pers Soc Psychol 63(3):452–459. https://doi.org/10.1037//0022-3514.63.3.452

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Candelaria AM, Fedewa AL, Ahn S (2012) School Psychology International. The effects of anger management on children’s social and emotional outcomes: a meta-analysis. 33(6):596–614

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen C, Li C, Wang H, Ou JJ, Zhou JS, Wang XP (2014) Cognitive behavioral therapy to reduce overt aggression behavior in Chinese young male violent offenders. Aggress Behav 40(4):329–336. https://doi.org/10.1002/ab.21521

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chereji SV, Pintea S, David D (2012) The European Journal of Psychology Applied to Legal Context. The relationship of anger and cognitive distortions with violence in violent offenders’ population: a meta-analytic review. 4(1).

    Google Scholar 

  • Coccaro EF, Harvey PD, Kupsaw-Lawrence E, Herbert JL, Bernstein DP (1991) Development of neuropharmacologically based behavioral assessments of impulsive aggressive behavior. J Neuropsychiatry Clin Neurosci 3(2):S44–S51

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Deffenbacher JL, Mckay M (2000) Overcoming situational and general anger. New Harbinger Publications, Oakland

    Google Scholar 

  • Denson TF (2013) The multiple systems model of angry rumination. Personal Soc Psychol Rev 17(2):103–123. https://doi.org/10.1177/1088868312467086

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Derogatis LR (1983) SCL-90-R: administration, scoring and procedures. Manual II for the revised version and other instruments of the psychopathology rating scale series

    Google Scholar 

  • Gec D, Broadbear JH, Bourton D, Rao S (2021) Ten-week intensive group program (IGP) for borderline personality disorder: making the case for more accessible and affordable psychotherapy. Evid Based Ment Health 24(1):e1. https://doi.org/10.1136/ebmental-2020-300195

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Glancy G, Saini MA (2005) An evidenced-based review of psychological treatments of anger and aggression. Brief Treatment Crisis Interv 5(2): 229–248

    Google Scholar 

  • Gutteling BM, Montagne B, Nijs M, van den Bosch LM (2012) Dialectical behavior therapy: is outpatient group psychotherapy an effective alternative to individual psychotherapy?: Preliminary conclusions. Compr Psychiatry 53(8):1161–1168. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.comppsych.2012.03.017

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Haigh R, Pearce S (2017) The theory and practice of democratic therapeutic community treatment. Jessica Kingsley Publishers, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamelin J, Travis R, Sturmey P (2013) Anger management and intellectual disabilities: a systematic review. Mental Health Res Intellectual Disabil 6(1):60–70

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Henwood KS, Chou S, Browne KD (2015) A systematic review and meta-analysis on the effectiveness of CBT informed anger management. Aggress Violent Behav 25:280–292

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Herpertz SC, Matzke B, Hillmann K, Neukel C, Mancke F, Jaentsch B, Schwenger U, Honecker H, Bullenkamp R, Steinmann S, Krauch M, Bauer S, Borzikowsky C, Bertsch K, Dempfle A (2021) A mechanism-based group-psychotherapy approach to aggressive behaviour in borderline personality disorder: findings from a cluster-randomised controlled trial. BJPsych Open 7(1). https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2020.131

  • Ho BP, Carter M, Stephenson J (2010) Anger management using a cognitive-behavioural approach for children with special education needs: a literature review and meta-analysis. Int J Disabil Dev Educ 57(3):245–265

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Honecker H, Bertsch K, Spiess K, Krauch M, Kleindienst N, Herpertz SC, Neukel C (2021) Impact of a mechanism-based anti-aggression psychotherapy on behavioral mechanisms of aggression in patients with borderline personality disorder. Front Psych 12:689267. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.689267

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kazdin AE (2007) Mediators and mechanisms of change in psychotherapy research. Annu Rev Clin Psychol 3:1–27. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.clinpsy.3.022806.091432

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kazdin AE (2009) Understanding how and why psychotherapy leads to change. Psychother Res 19(4–5):418–428

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lambert MJ, Ogles B (2004) The efficacy and effectiveness of psychotherapy. In: Lambert MJ (ed) Bergin and Garfields handbook of psychotherapy and behavior change. Wiley, New York, pp 139–193

    Google Scholar 

  • Lanza ML, Satz H, Stone J, Kayne HL (1995) Assessing the impact of group treatment for aggressive inpatients. Group 19(4):195–219

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Linehan MM (2018) Cognitive-behavioral treatment of borderline personality disorder. Guilford Publications, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Lui JH, Marcus DK, Barry CT (2017) Evidence-based apps? A review of mental health mobile applications in a psychotherapy context. Prof Psychol Res Pract 48(3):199

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mancke F, Herpertz SC, Bertsch K (2015) Aggression in borderline personality disorder: a multidimensional model. Pers Disord 6(3):278–291. https://doi.org/10.1037/per0000098

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mancke F, Herpertz SC, Kleindienst N, Bertsch K (2017) Emotion dysregulation and trait anger sequentially mediate the association between borderline personality disorder and aggression. J Personal Disord 31(2):256–272. https://doi.org/10.1521/pedi_2016_30_247

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCloskey MS, Noblett KL, Deffenbacher JL, Gollan JK, Coccaro EF (2008) Cognitive-behavioral therapy for intermittent explosive disorder: a pilot randomized clinical trial. J Consult Clin Psychol 76(5):876–886. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-006X.76.5.876

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mills JF, Kroner DG, Forth AE (1998) Novaco anger scale: reliability and validity within an adult criminal sample. Assessment 5(3):237–248

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Neacsiu AD, Rizvi SL, Linehan MM (2010) Dialectical behavior therapy skills use as a mediator and outcome of treatment for borderline personality disorder. Behav Res Ther 48(9):832–839

    Google Scholar 

  • Neukel C, Bertsch K, Wenigmann M, Spiess K, Krauch M, Steinmann S, Herpertz SC (2021) A mechanism-based approach to anti-aggression psychotherapy in borderline personality disorder: group treatment affects amygdala activation and connectivity. Brain Sci 11(12). https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11121627

  • Novaco RW, Taylor JL (2015) Reduction of assaultive behavior following anger treatment of forensic hospital patients with intellectual disabilities. Behav Res Ther 65:52–59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2014.12.001

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • O’Rourke M, Hammond S (2000) The RAAP anger assessment profile psychometric norms and professional manual. RAMAS Foundation, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Pearce S, Scott L, Attwood G, Saunders K, Dean M, De Ridder R, Galea D, Konstantinidou H, Crawford M (2017) Democratic therapeutic community treatment for personality disorder: randomised controlled trial. Br J Psychiatry 210(2):149–156. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.116.184366

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reilly PM, Shopshire MS (2000) Anger management group treatment for cocaine dependence: preliminary outcomes. Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 26(2):161–177, Rockville. https://doi.org/10.1081/ada-100100598

  • Reilly PM, Shopshire MS (2002) Anger management for substance abuse and mental health clients: cognitive behavioral therapy manual. US Department of Health & Human Services

    Google Scholar 

  • Sansone RA, Sansone LA (2012) Borderline personality and externalized aggression. Innov Clin Neurosci 9(3):23–26

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Soler J, Pascual JC, Tiana T, Cebria A, Barrachina J, Campins MJ, Gich I, Alvarez E, Perez V (2009) Dialectical behaviour therapy skills training compared to standard group therapy in borderline personality disorder: a 3-month randomised controlled clinical trial. Behav Res Ther 47(5):353–358. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2009.01.013

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Spielberger CD (1999) Staxi-2: state-trait anger expression inventory-2. Psychological Assessment Resources, Odessa

    Google Scholar 

  • Spitzer RL, Williams JB, Gibbon M, First MB (1990) User’s guide for the structured clinical interview for DSM-III-R: SCID

    Google Scholar 

  • Sukhodolsky DG, Golub A, Cromwell EN (2001) Development and validation of the anger rumination scale. Personal Individ Differ 31(5):689–700

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wetterborg D, Dehlbom P, Langstrom N, Andersson G, Fruzzetti AE, Enebrink P (2020) Dialectical behavior therapy for men with borderline personality disorder and antisocial behavior: a clinical trial. J Personal Disord 34(1):22–39. https://doi.org/10.1521/pedi_2018_32_379

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilkowski BM, Robinson MD (2010) The anatomy of anger: an integrative cognitive model of trait anger and reactive aggression. J Pers 78(1):9–38. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6494.2009.00607.x

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Williams RB, Williams VP (2011) Adaptation and implementation of an evidence-based behavioral medicine program in diverse global settings: the Williams LifeSkills experience. Transl Behav Med 1(2):303–312. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13142-011-0030-6

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Willner P, Rose J, Jahoda A, Kroese BS, Felce D, MacMahon P, Stimpson A, Rose N, Gillespie D, Shead J, Lammie C, Woodgate C, Townson JK, Nuttall J, Cohen D, Hood K (2013) A cluster randomised controlled trial of a manualised cognitive behavioural anger management intervention delivered by supervised lay therapists to people with intellectual disabilities. Health Technol Assessment (Winchester, England) 17(21):1

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson C, Gandolfi S, Dudley A, Thomas B, Tapp J, Moore E (2013) Evaluation of anger management groups in a high-security hospital. Crim Behav Ment Health 23(5):356–371. https://doi.org/10.1002/cbm.1873

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Yalom ID, Leszcz M (2005) The theory and practice of group psychotherapy, 5th edn. Basic Books, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Zarshenas L, Baneshi M, Sharif F, Moghimi Sarani E (2017) Anger management in substance abuse based on cognitive behavioral therapy: an interventional study. BMC Psychiatry 17(1):375. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-017-1511-z

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of General Psychiatry, Center for Psychosocial Medicine, Medical Faculty, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany

    Corinne Neukel & Sabine C. Herpertz

Authors
  1. Corinne Neukel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sabine C. Herpertz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Corinne Neukel .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Health and Wellbeing, University of Suffolk, Ipswich, UK

    Colin R. Martin

  2. Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King’s College London, London, UK

    Victor R. Preedy

  3. School of Life Sciences, University of Westminster, London, UK

    Vinood B. Patel

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2023 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this entry

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this entry

Neukel, C., Herpertz, S.C. (2023). Aggressive Behavior: Treatment by Group Psychotherapy. In: Martin, C.R., Preedy, V.R., Patel, V.B. (eds) Handbook of Anger, Aggression, and Violence. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-31547-3_103

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation