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Effects of induced anger in patients with antisocial personality disorder

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 January 2009

J. Lobbestael ,
A. Arntz ,
M. Cima  and
F. Chakhssi
J. Lobbestael*
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Psychological Science, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
A. Arntz
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Psychological Science, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
M. Cima
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Psychological Science, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
F. Chakhssi
Affiliation:
Forensic Psychiatric Center de Rooyse Wissel, Venray, The Netherlands
*
*Address for correspondence: J. Lobbestael, Ph.D., Department of Clinical Psychological Science, Maastricht University, PO Box 616, 6200MDMaastricht, The Netherlands. (Email: jill.lobbestael@dmkep.unimaas.nl)
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Abstract

Background

Anger is the main deregulated emotion in patients with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). The aim of this study was to examine emotional, cognitive and physiological correlates of anger and compare these between ASPD patients with varying degree of psychopathy (PP) and control groups.

Method

Assessment of the effect of anger induction on self-reported emotions and schema modes, psychophysiology and implicit reaction-time tasks measuring self-anger and aggressor–swearword associations. Participants (n=147) were patients with DSM-IV antisocial (n=21), borderline (n=45) and cluster C personality disorder (n=46) and non-patient controls (n=35).

Results

Groups did not differ in self-reported anger. ASPD patients displayed a decrease in heart rate and systolic blood pressure (SBP) and stronger implicit self-anger associations. ASPD patients scoring low on affective PP reported less negative emotions and displayed a greater decrease in diastolic blood pressure (DBP).

Conclusions

ASPD patients did not display a deviant self-reported anger but physiological hyporesponsivity and cognitive hyper-responsivity. This ASPD anger response might reflect a controlled predatory-like fight preparation.

Keywords

Angerantisocial personality disorderexplicitimplicit
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 39 , Issue 4 , April 2009 , pp. 557 - 568
Copyright
Copyright © 2009 Cambridge University Press

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