CASE-STUDY - EGO-DYSTONIC ANGER ATTACKS IN MOTHERS OF YOUNG-CHILDREN

Parental anger can have detrimental effects on children and can contri bute to physical abuse. Ego-dystonic anger attacks are an underrecogni zed psychiatric symptom that occurs in association with depression, wi th other psychiatric disorders, and in the absence of comorbid disorde rs. They are characterized by overwhelming anger and autonomic arousal occurring upon provocation viewed as trivial by the individual, and t hey respond well to treatment with serotonergic antidepressants. Conse quently, they represent a readily treatable problem. Four cases of ang er attacks in mothers of young children are described to illustrate th e importance of recognizing and treating anger attacks.