Verbal assault of staff, as measured by records of institutional infractions, was significantly reduced for the treatment group - from eight incidents before treatment to one incident after treatment. The results strongly support the two hypotheses. This anger management treatment program produced significant changes. They can also teach individuals to reduce anger arousal and to develop conscious control over anger-arousing thought patterns. At the institutional level, the fact that the treatment group was involved in less verbal conflict with staff after treatment is very positive.
Verbal assault can be the precursor to physical violence.
Furthermore, participants reported that they thought they would engage in less physical violence toward others in general. The reductions in scores on scales measuring depression, interpersonal problems and impulsiveness indicate that the participants felt less susceptible to aggravation and conflict with authority figures. They expressed feeling better about themselves and their interpersonal relationships. Overall, they reported feeling more optimistic about the future. It is encouraging that there were no differences in the results across therapy groups or therapists, which gives some indication of the strength of the program itself over the therapist's personality or the program setting.