chennai
From an article in today's LA Times:
Now, another name for rage
You might call it bad behavior, but in medical terms, it's `intermittent explosive disorder.'
By Janet Cromley, Times Staff Writer
June 12, 2006
Most who brave the Los Angeles freeways have experienced the warm, fuzzy ministry of another motorist cutting into their lane while waving the international friendship sign. This can render even the most laid-back, Prius-driving, yoga master a bit testy.
But for a small number of people, this minor driving altercation will spark rage so profound, so visceral, that it leads to car chases, fisticuffs and maybe even a few nights in the slammer. Now researchers say these people may be suffering from a seldom-studied condition known as intermittent explosive disorder, a condition that could be twice as prevalent as thought.
New research suggests that, depending on how it is defined, the disorder may affect 7.3% of the adult population, or as many as 16 million Americans, in their lifetimes, according to a study led by Ronald Kessler, a professor of healthcare policy at Harvard Medical School. In a given year, nearly 4% of the population, or as many as 8.5 million Americans, may experience the disorder, says Kessler.
The findings, derived from a nationwide household survey of 9,282 adults conducted between February 2001 and April 2003, was reported in the June issue of Archives of General Psychiatry.
The whole article requires free registration to view: http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-rage12jun12,0,6819250.story?coll=la-home-headlines
Now, another name for rage
You might call it bad behavior, but in medical terms, it's `intermittent explosive disorder.'
By Janet Cromley, Times Staff Writer
June 12, 2006
Most who brave the Los Angeles freeways have experienced the warm, fuzzy ministry of another motorist cutting into their lane while waving the international friendship sign. This can render even the most laid-back, Prius-driving, yoga master a bit testy.
But for a small number of people, this minor driving altercation will spark rage so profound, so visceral, that it leads to car chases, fisticuffs and maybe even a few nights in the slammer. Now researchers say these people may be suffering from a seldom-studied condition known as intermittent explosive disorder, a condition that could be twice as prevalent as thought.
New research suggests that, depending on how it is defined, the disorder may affect 7.3% of the adult population, or as many as 16 million Americans, in their lifetimes, according to a study led by Ronald Kessler, a professor of healthcare policy at Harvard Medical School. In a given year, nearly 4% of the population, or as many as 8.5 million Americans, may experience the disorder, says Kessler.
The findings, derived from a nationwide household survey of 9,282 adults conducted between February 2001 and April 2003, was reported in the June issue of Archives of General Psychiatry.
The whole article requires free registration to view: http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-he-rage12jun12,0,6819250.story?coll=la-home-headlines