NCJ Number
228728
Journal
Aggression and Violent Behavior Volume: 14 Issue: 5 Dated: September/October 2009 Pages: 396-401
Date Published
October 2009
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This paper reviews the literature in relation to the theory and treatment of problematic anger to determine whether a rationale exists for the use of mindfulness with angry individuals.
Abstract
This review suggests that acceptance based modalities, such as mindfulness, have the ability to complement and enhance traditional cognitive-behavioral approaches to intervening with anger disturbances. Mindfulness may serve to increase exposure to anger, and reduce impulsive, maladaptive reactivity, and it may also facilitate cognitive change and assist in the development of self-regulatory ability. Clinical interventions based on training in mindfulness skills are an increasingly common part of psychological practice. Mindfulness is a manner of developing attentive awareness that originated in Eastern spiritual traditions. It has been integrated in a number of different interventions and psychotherapies that are now commonly available in hospitals, medical clinics, and mental health settings. Mindfulness training can lead to reductions in a variety of problematic conditions including pain, stress, anxiety, depressive relapse, and disordered eating. However, to date there have been few attempts to investigate the effectiveness of this approach with problematic anger. In this paper, the literature is reviewed in relation to the theory and treatment of problematic anger. The intent is to determine whether a rationale exists for the use of mindfulness with angry individuals. References