Description
The AARS is a 41-item psychometrically sound instrument that assesses the intensity and frequency of anger expression in adolescents. The items are consistent with behaviours identified in the DSM-IV™. Elevated AARS scores can help to identify adolescents who are at risk for diagnoses of Conduct Disorder (CD), Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD), or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Individuals indicate which behaviours they exhibit when angered and how often each behaviour typically occurs; the 4-point response scale ranges from Hardly Ever to Very Often. Scores are reported for Total anger and for three subscales measuring aspects of the adolescent’s typical anger response pattern: Instrumental Anger, Reactive Anger, and Anger Control.
The goal of any anger intervention program is to help the adolescent manage his or her anger. Practitioners using the AARS will be able to select the most appropriate intervention program for the specific type(s) of anger the adolescent typically experiences.
