Individuals’ experiences of group based CBT interventions for anger 1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Individals’ experience of group based Cognitive Behavioural Interventions for Anger; A Qualitative Study
IRAS ID
147410
Contact name
Elizabeth Newton
Contact email
Research summary
Mounting evidence links anger with a range of physical, mental health and social problems (Deffenbacher, 1993). Despite the prevalence of and the problems created by anger, the scientific study of anger treatment (and presentation of anger itself) has lagged far behind that of other disorders.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is recommended as the treatment of choice for anger Saini (2009), but service provision specific to anger is both scarce and variable. CBT targets thought processes and unhelpful behaviours which may contribute to the maintenance of a problem.
This study hopes to add to the research base in understanding clients’ experience of anger; including its impact the individual’s life, what leads to a referral for psychological interventions, clients’ perception of treatment (from selection of treatment option to treatment completion), with reference to their opinion on treatment effectiveness.
The research will take place within a primary care mental health team, where clinical presentations associated with anger are common and a group based anger management programme is established. Clients referred to said programme will be identified as potential participants for the study.
The study will be qualitative in nature and use semi structured interviews, lasting between 45-90 minutes, as means of data collection. A sample size of 6-8 has been identified. This method will facilitate the gathering of rich and detailed personal accounts of individuals’ experiences. Analysis of this data will involve interacting with data and noting emergent themes, using interpretative phenomenological analysis, a method often used in psychological studies of experience.
Further knowledge about clients’ experiences could help services to adapt treatment packages to ensure more tolerable treatment with the potential for lower drop out rates, increased treatment completion rates, improving cost effectiveness and accordingly enhancing opportunity for clients to overcome their difficulties.
REC name
North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/NW/0345
Date of REC Opinion
17 Jun 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion