Cognitive-behavioral treatment of high anger drivers.
Relaxation and cognitive-relaxation interventions were compared to a no treatment control in the treatment of high anger drivers. The cognitive portion of the cognitive-relaxation condition adapted the style of Beck's cognitive therapy, particularly use of Socratic questions and behavioral experiments and tryouts, to driving anger reduction. Both interventions lowered indices of driving anger and hostile and aggressive forms of expressing driving anger and increased adaptive/constructive ways of expressing driving anger. The cognitive-relaxation intervention also lowered the frequency of risky behavior. Both interventions lowered trait anger as well. Limitations and implications for treatment and research were discussed.
Department of Psychology, Tri-Ethnic Center for Prevention Research, Colorado State University, Fort Collins 80523-1876, USA. jld6871@lamar.colostate.edu
Jerry L
JL
Deffenbacher
Linda B
LB
Filetti
Rebekah S
RS
Lynch
Eric R
ER
Dahlen
Eugene R
ER
Oetting
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000786:Anger; D001334:Automobile Driving / Q000523:psychology*; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000628:therapy*