A 27-year-old unemployed man has been referred by his general practitioner for help with managing his anger. He has recently moved to the area and no previous medical or psychiatric notes are available. He tells you that he ‘lives on his wits’ but has just been released from prison three weeks ago. Case history As a child, he had behavioral problems and was expelled from several different schools. He saw a child psychologist between the ages of 11 and 14 years.
After leaving school at 15, with no qualifications, he has held a number of short-term unskilled jobs. He is always able to get jobs but has trouble keeping them because his short temper leads him to fall out with his colleagues. He says that he has a similar problem with relationships and admits that he has previously been violent towards his partners. He has had extensive contact with the criminal justice system and has spent…
