Scientists say that a rare form of mental illness could be the cause of road rage. A study from Harvard University says that as many as 16 million Americans could be suffering from Intermittent Explosive Disorder. This report from Matt McGrath:

Listen to the story

People with this disorder feel a sense of relief during the angry outburst, and then feel remorseful about their actions. It is these feelings of shame and embarrassment that have kept the condition relatively hidden, according to the researchers. The disorder affects twice as many men as women and the first outbursts usually take place in adolescence. The researchers believe that there is a strong genetic element to the condition, and growing up in a home where parents had difficulties with depression or alcohol was often a trigger.

IED often precedes depression, anxiety, alcohol and drug abuse. Over eighty per cent of those diagnosed with IED suffered from these conditions as well. The scientists behind the study say that anti-depressant medicine, combined with teaching people how to handle their feelings of frustration, can be an effective treatment for the disorder.

This research only applies to the United States, but further studies will take place in thirty countries to see if IED is truly a worldwide phenomenon.

Matt McGrath, BBC, Science Reporter

Listen to the words

Intermittent
Not all the time, stopping and starting, happening on and off

bodily harm
physical injury to someone

road rage
a term for when people get very angry when driving and are sometimes violent towards other drivers

spousal abuse
being violent towards a spouse (wife or husband)

a sense of relief
feeling better

remorseful
sorry

adolescence
the period of teenage years and early adulthood

a trigger
the thing that causes a serious problem

precedes
happens before

anti-depressant medicine
medicine to help people who suffer from depression

Read more about this story

For teachers
Lesson plan based on this story (80k)