Page 123 - HA Convention 2015

Service Priorities and Programmes Free Papers

SPP3.6 Clinical Safety and Quality Service I 14:30 Room 221

Effectiveness of a Transdiagnostic Group Treatment on Anger Management in Reducing the Violence Risk of Monday, 18 May

Adult Psychiatric Inpatients with Violence Propensity
Tsui WJC 1, Lam LCN 2, Liu CSN 3, Wong TCM 4, Ng SKC 5, Ting KT 1, Wong HHH 1, Chong GHC 2, Tang MMY 3, Yeung HHL 4,
Chan KWC 5, Kong VCC 5, Leung FLT 1, Wu KYK 2
1Department of Clinical Psychology, Kowloon Hospital, 2Department of Clinical Psychology, Kwai Chung Hospital,
3Department of Clinical Psychology, Castle Peak Hospital, 4Department of Clinical Psychology, United Christian Hospital,
5Department of Clinical Psychology, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital, Hong Kong

Introduction

The anger management programme is a new initiative of the Clinical Psychology Service of the Hospital Authority launched
in 2012, aiming to enhance the psychological service in the inpatient psychiatric settings of Hong Kong. It is a locally
developed, structured, and evidence-based cognitive behavioural group treatment for adult psychiatric inpatients with
violence propensity.

Objectives

This retrospective study examined the effectiveness of the anger management programme in reducing the risk of violence in
adult psychiatric inpatients with violence propensity.

Methodology

Patients who attended the treatment programme and completed both the pre- and post-measures of treatment outcomes
were included in the study. Repeated-measure design with convenience sampling was employed. Treatment effectiveness
was measured by the self-reported questionnaires: the Chinese version of the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory-2
(C-STAXI-2), the Chinese version of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (C-DASS-21), and the Patient Satisfaction
Questionnaire (PSQ) at pre-treatment and post-treatment.

Results

From April 2012 to March 2014, a total of 272 patients completed both the pre- and post-treatment measures, of which 162
(60%) were females and 110 (40%) were males. Amongst them, 96.4% indicated that they were satisfied with the treatment
(Agree: 71%; Strongly agree: 25.4%). 96.3% of patients indicated that the group treatment was helpful in managing their
anger (Agree: 72.8%; Strongly agree: 23.5%). Those at risk of violence (i.e., 87 patients who scored high on both the Trait
Anger and Anger Expression-Out scales of C-STAXI-2) demonstrated significant decrease in their outward expression of
anger (Anger Expression-Out scale) (F(1, 86) = 11.80, p =.001, ηp2 = .12). Besides, a concomitant significant decrease in their
general level of distress (C-DASS-21) (F(1, 87) = 5.731, p < .05), ηp2 = .06) was also found.

Conclusion

The locally developed, structured, and evidence-based cognitive-behavioural group treatment on anger management was
effective in reducing the risk of violence of adult psychiatric inpatients with violence propensity.

HOSPITAL AUTHORITY CONVENTION 2015

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