Understanding Anger Disorders

by Raymond DiGiuseppe, Raymond Chip Tafrate

Since classical times, philosophers and physicians have identified anger as a human frailty that can lead to violence and human suffering, but with the development of a modern science of abnormal psychology and mental disorders, it has been written off as merely an emotional symptom and excluded from most accepted systems of psychiatric diagnosis. Yet despite the lack of scientific recognition, anger-related violence is often in the news, and courts are increasingly mandating anger management treatment. It is time for a fresh scientific examination of one of the most fundamental human emotions and what happens when it becomes pathological, and this thorough, persuasive book offers precisely such a probing analysis.

Using both clinical data and a variety of case studies, esteemed anger researchers Raymond A. DiGiuseppe and Raymond Chip Tafrate argue for a new diagnostic classification, Anger Regulation and Expression Disorder, that will help bring about clinical improvements and increased scientific understanding of anger. After situating anger in both historical and emotional contexts, they report research that supports the existence of several subtypes of the disorder and review treatment outcome studies and new interventions to improve treatment. The first book that fully explores anger as a clinical phenomenon and provides a reliable set of assessment criteria, it represents a major step toward establishing the clear definitions and scientific basis necessary for assessing, diagnosing, and treating anger disorders.

432 pages, Hardcover

First published August 14, 2006

About the author

Raymond A. DiGiuseppe, Ph.D., Sc.D. is Director of Professional Education and licensed Staff Psychologist at the Albert Ellis Institute (AEI). After earning a B.S. degree from Villanova University, Dr. DiGiuseppe received his Ph.D. from Hofstra University in 1975. He completed a postdoctoral fellowship at AEI in 1977. In 1980 he became the Institute’s Director of Professional Education, a position he has held since then. He has trained hundreds of therapists in Rational Emotive and Cognitive Behavior Therapy (RE&CBT) throughout the world. He received the Jack Krasner Early Career Contribution award from APA’s Division of Psychotherapy (29) and was elected a fellow of the American Psychological Association’s divisions of Psychotherapy, Clinical, School, and Family Psychology.
Dr. DiGiuseppe joined the faculty of St. John’s University in 1987, and is presently professor and chair of the psychology department. He has been very active in the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT). Dr. DiGiuseppe helped develop the Diplomate in Behavioral Psychology (1986-87) and served on the Diplomate board. He was associate program chair (1995), and program chair (1996) for ABCT. He has served on the editorial board of ABCT’s Cognitive and Behavioral Practice. He served as ABCT convention coordinator (1997 – 2000) and associate convener for the 2001 World Congress for Behavior Therapy. Dr. DiGiuseppe developed and promoted popular convention formats such as the Master Clinician Series and the World Rounds demonstrations. Dr. DiGiuseppe was elected ABCT representative-at-large in 2001 and recently served as President of the organization.
Dr. DiGiuseppe has contributed to the scientific and clinical literature with six books, more than 120 chapters and articles, and hundreds of conference presentations. He is co-authored two psychological tests, The Anger Disorders Scale (for Adults, and the Anger Regulation and Expression Scale (for children and adolescents).He has coauthored several books on REBT including the Practitioner’s Guide to Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy, which is undergoing its third edition. His present scholarship focuses on clinical aspects of anger and RE&CBT, on which he lectures widely.