Doing Anger Differently: Two controlled trials of percussion group psychotherapy for adolescent reactive aggression

This study evaluates efficacy and effectiveness of ‘Doing Anger Differently’ (DAD), a group treatment for reactively aggressive 12–15 year old males. DAD uses percussion exercises to aid treatment. Study 1 compared a ten-week treatment with a waitlist control at pre, post and 6 month (treatment group only) follow-up. Study 2 replicated Study 1, but also followed up controls at 6 months. In study 1 (N = 54) the treatment resulted in lowered trait anger (Cohen’s d = −1.3), aggression-reports (d = −1.0) and depression (d = −0.6), and increased self-esteem (d = 0.6), all maintained at six months. In study 2 (N = 65), aggression-reports fell to one fifth of pre-treatment levels at nine months follow-up (d = −1.2), with lowered trait anger (d = −0.4) and anger expression (d = −0.3) post-treatment.