Anger in an inpatient treatment sample of chronic alcoholics

Four measures of anger were investigated in sober male and female alcoholics and nonalcoholic peers. The relationships among anger variables, past drinking behavior, and substance abuse consequences in alcoholics were explored. Additionally, the interrelationships among anger, depression, and anxiety in the groups were examined, and the relationships between an overall dysphoria index and drinking behavior and substance abuse consequences were determined. 104 alcoholics (sober 21 to 45 days) and 70 community controls, aged 21 to 56, were given the Spielberger Anger Expression inventory, the Beck Depression Inventory, and the Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory. Alcoholics scored higher than controls on Trait Anger, Anger-in, and Anger-Out, but not on State Anger. There were no main effects of sex. Anger-in was significantly negatively correlated with the Quantity-Frequency Index in alcoholic males. Anger-in was significantly positively correlated with depression in male and female alcoholics and with substance abuse consequences in the latter group. The depression measure was significantly correlated with consequences in female, but not in male alcoholics. These data have treatment implications, especially for female alcoholics.