Anger - Friend or foe? - Anger restructuring in cognitive theraphy and short-term dynamic psychotherapy for cluster C personality disorders: A randomised controlled trial

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to examine to what extent higher levels of anger restructuring would lead to symptom reduction on SCL-90-R for cluster C personality disorders independent of treatment condition. The two treatments given were cognitive therapy for personality disorders (CT) and short-term dynamic psychotherapy for personality disorders (STDP). Furthermore, higher levels of anger restructuring late in therapy were hypothesised to be significantly more associated with symptom reduction post treatment in the STDP-condition. The aforementioned associations where hypothesised to be independent of level of inhibition late in treatment. Analysis were conducted on 35 patients concerning levels of anger restructuring early and late in the two treatment conditions (STDP: N=16; CT: N=19). A hierarchical regression analysis revealed that all hypotheses were empirically supported in the current study. Clinical implications of the results emphasise the importance of anger restructuring in the treatment of cluster C personality disorder, and furthermore that anxiety provoking treatment of supressed anger can be more effective than a more anxiety regulating approach. Finally, it suggests that anger restructuring can be a common denominator in treatment in both CT and STDP.