But if there is physical damage or dysfunction in the brain, no amount of class time is going to resolve the problem. People whose anger problems get them into trouble with relationships or the law are often sent to anger management classes, which can be very beneficial for some. The scan on the right, which is of a patient with anger issues who fell off a roof, shows damage to the frontal lobe and left temporal lobe. The healthy surface brain SPECT scan on the left shows full, even symmetrical activity. Basically, it shows three things: healthy activity, too little activity, or too much activity. SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) is a nuclear medicine study that evaluates blood flow and activity in the brain. When the head is struck (such as in contact sports and motor vehicle accidents) the brain slams into the sharp boney ridges inside the skull, causing injury to the delicate tissue. The brain is very soft, similar to the consistency of soft butter, and is housed in a very hard skull. By virtue of their location inside the skull, the temporal lobes and PFC are vulnerable to damage from hits or other impacts to the head. Temporal and frontal lobe problems can come from many sources, with the most common being genetics, exposure to neurotoxins or infections, and head trauma. The PFC is involved with a multitude of executive functions, including acting as the brain’s “brake,” so when there is low blood flow in this area, impulses are harder to control. Imaging studies have also found that damage to the prefrontal cortex (PFC) can contribute to anger problems. When there is abnormal activity in this area of the brain, it can be associated with aggression (internally or externally directed), dark or violent thoughts, emotional instability, and other problems. The temporal lobes, located on either side of the brain behind the eyes and underneath the temples, are involved with emotional stability, understanding and processing memories, and more. Physical aggression leading to damage of property, people, or animals.Engaging in slapping, punching, pushing, or other bodily harm. ![]() Physical and/or verbal altercations with others.Symptoms of problematic anger and IED include: Sudden rages may also be associated with a boost in energy, racing thoughts, heart palpitations, chest tightness, tingling, or increased tension. For others, intense anger can occasionally flare up without warning, or it manifests regularly, seemingly without overt provocation. Some people are chronically angry-they feel irritable and mad most of the time. ![]() People who have a first-degree relative with IED have an increased risk for developing it too. Those who grew up in an abusive home or who have suffered multiple traumas are at higher risk for IED and other anger issues. In adults, it is more commonly seen in people in their 20s and 30s, and rarely does it begin after age 40. In IED, the onset of impulsive and problematic anger typically occurs in late childhood or adolescence. ![]() It is estimated that about 2.7% of people in the U.S.
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