Developing a brief tool for anger assessment in clinical settings.

OBJECTIVES: To develop and validate a new brief assessment tool for anger in clinical settings at the Cluain Mhuire Acute Day Hospital. METHODS: The Cluain Mhuire Clinical Anger Scale (CMCAS) was developed using mixed methods including content analysis of interviews with five clients and six clinicians and qualitative item analysis of nine existing assessment tools. An initial 16-item scale was completed by 112 clients of a psychiatric day hospital and a nonclinical comparison group (n = 76). RESULTS: Psychometric analysis found that the CMCAS consisted of one 12-item factor with good internal reliability (α = 0.82, n = 178) and good test-retest reliability (r = 0.93, n = 12) and converged with scores on STAXI-2. It distinguished between a sub-group referred for an anger management programme and matched groups from non-anger clinical and non-clinical samples (F(2) = 18.13; p < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest the CMCAS may be useful in clinical settings as a screening and assessment tool.

The 2008 anatomy ceremony: voices, letter, poems.

Yale University medical and PA students express their gratitude in a compilation of reflections on learning human anatomy.