To assess the relationships between trait anger (T-Anger) and anger expression styles and emotional states—suicide probability, depression, state and trait anxiety and self-esteem—in alcohol-dependent inpatients.
The patients included in this study were 142 male inpatients with alcohol dependence according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) criteria. The Suicide Probability Scale, the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory, the Beck Depression Inventory, the Beck Hopelessness Scale, the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Scales, and the T-Anger and Anger Expressions Scales were used for the assessment of the emotional states of the patients. Pearson correlation, analysis of variance and linear regression were used in the statistical analysis.
There were significant correlations between suicide probability, depression, state and the trait anxiety, and the T-Anger and all of the anger expression subscales. The presence of high probability for suicide was related to a high level of T-Anger, Anger-out and Anger-in. Finally, a low level of hopelessness was associated with a high level of T-Anger, and a high level of the trait anxiety was associated with a low level of the Anger Control (AEX-Con).
The findings indicated that suicide probability, hopelessness and trait anxiety predict T-Anger levels and anger expression styles. Therefore, anxiety, hopelessness and suicide probability must be considered as risk for anger and anger expressions in alcohol-dependent patients. Furthermore, alcohol treatment programmes should attach importance to anger management and AEX-Con training.
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