Prevalence of anger attacks in depressive and anxiety disorders: implications for their construct?

AIMS The present study explores anger attacks in depressive and anxiety disorders for their prevalence and some of the clinical and psychosocial correlates. METHODS The sample comprised of patients with ICD-10-diagnosed depressive and anxiety disorders (n=328). All the subjects were given a demographic and clinical profile sheet, the Irritability Depression Anxiety Scale, World Health Organization Quality of Life - BREF Version and the Anger Attack Questionnaire. Using the Anger Attack Questionnaire they were divided into two groups--with anger attacks (n=170) and without anger attacks (n=158)--in order to study the differential profile of the two groups. RESULTS Anger attacks were associated with more anxiety and irritability, and poorer quality of life. Frequency of anger attacks had a positive correlation with depression, irritability and aggression, and a negative correlation with education, income, and quality of life. Panic attacks, somatic anxiety and psychological domain of quality of life predicted the categorization of subjects into those with and without anger attacks. CONCLUSION Anger attacks are common among depressive and anxiety disorder cases and have a negative impact on quality of life. Status of anger attacks as either linked to anxiety and/or depression, or as an independent syndrome needs further study.