What are the main causes of aggression?
Everyone becomes aggressive at times. However, in the setting of other physical symptoms or illness, aggressive tendencies can be representative of an illness. Show
9 most common causesPTSD Illustration of a doctor beside a bedridden patient. Schizophrenia Post-Concussion Syndrome Illustration of a person thinking with cross bandaids. Depression Illustration of various health care options. Bipolar Disorder Illustration of a doctor beside a bedridden patient. Borderline Personality Disorder Illustration of a doctor beside a bedridden patient. Alzheimer's Disease Illustration of a health care worker swabbing an individual. Conduct disorder Illustration of various health care options. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) Take a quiz to find out what's causing your aggression. Take aggression quiz Aggression symptomsAs fallible human beings, we are all prone to a burst of aggression now and then. Friends don't get along, coworkers get into it, and families fight. Rage and aggression are never pleasant emotions, and most of us always reflect back negatively on when we "lost control" or yelled at another person. But most of these experiences are transient, thankfully, and we are able to regain our composure, apologize, and move on. Unfortunately, that is not the case for all people. For one reason or another, some people are more prone to angry outbursts. When these bouts of aggression start to interfere with their everyday relationships and functioning, it's time to get some professional help. This is especially true if a person has a sudden personality change or becomes aggressive all of a sudden while sick as such acute changes can represent serious medical conditions and mild forms of brain dysfunction. If you feel unsafe, seek emergency careIf a person's aggression becomes threatening or violent, remember the number one rule is to be safe. If you feel unsafe or threatened, it is time to get law enforcement involved. Aggression can not only harm others, but the aggressor themselves, and so maintaining control of the situation is critical. Common accompanying symptoms of aggressionAggression may be associated with these common symptoms:
Aggression causesMost everyone becomes frustrated, angry, and aggressive at one point in their lives. Some people, however are quicker to anger, more prone to aggression, are less able to control their aggression, or are chronically unable to control their emotions effectively. When such negative behavior is pervasive, it may represent an underlying psychiatric or personality disorder. In the setting of other physical symptoms or illness, this may be representative of an illness negatively impacting brain function. Psychiatric causesAggression may be cause by psychiatric causes such as the following.
Neurologic causesAggression may be related to certain neurologic causes, such as the following.
Systemic causesYou may be experiencing aggression due to systemic causes, such as the following.
9 conditions of aggressionThis list does not constitute medical advice and may not accurately represent what you have. Take a quiz to find out what's causing your aggression. Take aggression quiz SchizophreniaSchizophrenia is a mental illness that causes people to lose touch with reality (called psychosis). People with schizophrenia may have hallucinations (like hearing voices) and delusions (fixed beliefs that aren’t true). They may have trouble keeping their thoughts straight, feel a lack of motivation, and not express much emotion. These symptoms greatly impact work and relationships. Schizophrenia affects roughly 1% of the population. It occurs equally in men and women but tends to appear earlier—usually in the teen years—in men. It is often diagnosed between teen years and early 30s. Schizophrenia is a lifelong illness that requires medication. Symptoms come and go over time. Early diagnosis and treatment can lead to greater improvements in symptoms. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a disorder that develops as a reaction of trauma. One can get PTSD after living through or seeing a traumatic event, such as war, a hurricane, sexual assault, physical abuse, or a bad accident. PTSD causes stress and fear after the danger is over. PTSD should be managed by a psychiatrist. If you have not been seen for your symptoms, go to your PCP for a referral immediately. Diagnosis is clinical while treatment involves different medications (possibly) and psychotherapy. Rarity: Common Top Symptoms: psychological or physiological distress Urgency: Primary care doctor Post-concussion syndromeConcussion symptoms tend to last for a few days to weeks. Sometimes, symptoms are long term, lingering for several months or even years. This is known as post-concussion syndrome (PCS). Some of the most common PCS symptoms include headaches and confusion. Memory problems and difficulty concentrating may also occur. You should consider visiting a medical professional in the next two weeks to discuss your symptoms. A doctor can evaluate PCS with a review of your symptoms and an MRI. Once diagnosed, treatment depends on your specific symptoms but often focuses on letting the brain rest and recuperate. You may be asked to temporarily stop sports and exercise until you are cleared to return. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a type of anxiety disorder. As the name suggests, it involves both obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are intrusive upsetting thoughts often relating to specific themes like cleanliness, symmetry, or sometimes even taboo thoughts that might be sexual or violent in nature. Compulsions are repetitive behaviors that the individual feels driven to perform, and are often related thematically to the obsessions. Patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder should see a psychiatrist or therapist in order to confirm the diagnosis. If confirmed, it can be treated with medications such as SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors), as well as a kind of therapy called cognitive behavioral therapy. Rarity: Rare Top Symptoms: impaired social or occupational functioning, anxiety, aggression, anxiety resembling obsessive-compulsive disorder, repetitive patterns of behavior Symptoms that always occur with obsessive-compulsive disorder (ocd): anxiety resembling obsessive-compulsive disorder, impaired social or occupational functioning Urgency: Primary care doctor Mild bipolar disorder iBipolar disorder is a common, lifelong mental health condition of variable severity that can run in families, characterized by episodes depression and mania that last for weeks or months. Symptoms often start in adolescence or young adulthood. Mania is a state of elevated or irritable mood, with changes in behavior, such as decreased need for sleep, increased goal-directed and risky activities, and increased talkativeness. Depressive episodes in bipolar disorder are like major depression, characterized by low mood, loss of pleasure, and low energy. Mood episodes are separated by periods of remission with stable mood and minimal difficulties with daily function. Treatment for bipolar disorder varies from person to person, depending on symptoms and other individual factors. It often consists of medications such as mood stabilizers and antipsychotics that help reduce extreme symptoms. Hospitalization may be recommended in acute episodes. Psychotherapy can also be helpful. Rarity: Rare Top Symptoms: fatigue, irritability, depressed mood, difficulty concentrating, trouble sleeping Symptoms that always occur with mild bipolar disorder i: periods of feeling very energetic and needing little sleep Urgency: Primary care doctor DepressionModerate depression, also called dysthymia or dysthymic disorder, is one of the three general forms of : mild, moderate, or severe. About half of all people suffering from have the moderate form. The causes of any depression are not known for sure. Some may be situational, such as grief or other difficult life events. Others may be due to physiological causes such as chemical or hormonal imbalances. Symptoms include loss of interest in normal activities; neglect of activities of daily living; and loss of productivity, though the person will continue going through the motions of attending work or school. If not treated, moderate depression can worsen into major depression. Diagnosis begins with physical examination and blood tests to rule out any physical causes. A mental health professional will talk to the patient to learn about any difficult situational factors. Treatment may or may not involve antidepressant medication, since antidepressants generally work best for severe depression. Psychotherapy, exercise, relaxation techniques, and lifestyle improvements are usually tried first for moderate depression, and are often very effective. Rarity: Common Top Symptoms: fatigue, depressed mood, headache, anxiety, irritability Symptoms that always occur with depression: depressed mood Urgency: Primary care doctor Conduct disorderConduct disorder refers to a group of behavioral and emotional problems in young people. Children and adolescents with this disorder have difficulty following rules and behaving in a socially acceptable way. May factors may contribute to this disorder, including brain damage, child abuse, genetic vulnerability, school failure, and traumatic life experiences. You should visit your primary care physician who will coordinate care with a child psychiatrist. Treatment usually involves behavior therapy and psychotherapy to help you learn to appropriately express and control anger. Rarity: Rare Top Symptoms: tendency to often break rules, deception, aggression and serious threats of harm Urgency: Primary care doctor Borderline personality disorderBorderline personality disorder is a personality disorder, or a persistent abnormal behavior pattern manifesting during childhood or adolescence, involving unstable mood and relationships, unstable self-image, and recurrent self-harm or suicidal behavior. Factors contributing to the development of borderline personality disorder include genetic factors, environmental factors, changes in brain circuitry, and hormonal imbalances. Alzheimer's diseaseAlzheimer's disease is a progressive neurological disorder that slowly destroys memory and the ability to think clearly. As symptoms worsen, patients are often unable to perform basic tasks. You should visit your physician to discuss these symptoms. It is likely tests will be ordered to better diagnose you. Rarity: Common Top Symptoms: trouble sleeping, forgetfulness, anxiety, aggression or confusion, anxiety, irritability, depressed mood Symptoms that always occur with alzheimer's disease:forgetfulness, anxiety, aggression or confusion Urgency: Primary care doctor Take a quiz to find out what's causing your aggression. Take aggression quiz Aggression treatments and reliefOften, feelings of aggression can be diffused through common coping mechanisms. However, when someone is chronically quick to anger, unable to control their anger, or is overly aggressive, it may be time to seek professional help. If someone becomes aggressive in the context of a traumatic injury or illness, they should be taken to a hospital for treatment as this may be a manifestation of that illness. At-home aggression treatmentsIf you're dealing with aggression, consider the following methods for calming yourself or another person down.
Professional aggression treatmentsIf aggressive episodes have gotten progressively worse or are persisting, it is time for professional help.
When aggression is an emergencyYou should seek help without delay if you or someone you know is experiencing:
FAQs about aggressionHere are some frequently asked questions about aggression. Why are some Alzheimer's patients aggressive?One of the most common symptoms associated with Alzheimer's Disease is memory impairment. However, other symptoms may appear earlier. Visuospatial impairment, or inability to discriminate between the locations of objects in space; and executive dysfunction, including tasks like self control, controlling aggression, and deficits in language and ability to perceive cultural or behavioral norms may appear first. Ability to control aggression is managed primarily by areas within the frontal cortex, which may be damaged by dementia far before symptoms of memory loss appear. What increases aggressive behavior?Increases in aggressive behavior can be triggered by a lack of impulse control, which can be triggered by substances that impair judgement like drugs and alcohol, a blow to the head impairing those same judgement centers, increased activation of the aggression center which can, again, be triggered by drugs and alcohol or even social and behavioral situations. Lack of sleep or existing in a space where an individual no longer believes they need to control aggression are common reasons why aggressive behavior may increase. What are some examples of aggressive behavior?Aggressive behavior can include open hostility like yelling, throwing objects, or physical altercations. Hostility can also include advancing toward a person, threatening hand gestures, or brandishing an object as a weapon. Why is my child overly aggressive?Most commonly, irritable or aggressive children may be missing sleep. Sleep deprivation can cause symptoms of depression or conduct disorders. Additionally, undiagnosed attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder can lead to aggression in some children, especially if they are under stress to perform well at school or at home. What causes a sudden onset of aggressive behavior?A sudden onset of aggressive behavior can be caused by many different substances, including drugs and alcohol, as well as age-related dementias like Alzheimer's. Individuals may be more aggressive if they have a sudden onset of a psychological condition like schizophrenia or a long term lack of sleep. Questions your doctor may ask about aggression
Self-diagnose with our free Buoy Assistant if you answer yes on any of these questions. Hear what 1 other is saying Share your story below! Required field First name initial (required) Required field Email (required; not displayed) Required field Title for your story (required) Required field Once your story receives approval from our editors, it will exist on Buoy as a helpful resource for others who may experience something similar. Submit story Request sent successfully An error occurred, please try again later The stories shared below are not written by Buoy employees. Buoy does not endorse any of the information in these stories. Whenever you have questions or concerns about a medical condition, you should always contact your doctor or a healthcare provider. Random outburstsPosted September 11, 2021 by M. Been having behavioral issues with aggression for about a year. Not sure what the underlying issue is, but I have been overly aggressive with everyone in my circle including co-workers and family. Not sure how to combat this, but my temper is way out of proportion compared to my stressors. Is it possible these reactions are a manifestation of feeling helpless or out of control? Share Copied to clipboard Close Icon.Jeffrey M. Rothschild, MD, MPH. Associate Professor of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital Dr. Rothschild has been a faculty member at Brigham and Women’s Hospital where he is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. He currently practices as a hospitalist at Newton Wellesley Hospital. In 1978, Dr. Rothschild received his MD at the Medical College of Wisconsin and trained in internal medicine followed by a fellowship in critical care medicine. He also received an MP... Read full bio Was this article helpful? 7 people found this helpful Heart Icon.7 Tooltip Icon. Share Icon.Share Facebook Icon. FacebookLinkedIn Icon. LinkedinPinterest Icon. PinterestPocket Icon. PocketShare Link Icon. Copy linkCopied to clipboard Close Icon.Read this next Slide 1 of 2 Anxiety Anxiety Disorders Anxiety is a natural response to stress, but it can get in the way of your life and relationships, especially if you have panic attacks. Read more Mental & Behavioral Health What Causes Personality Changes? Changes in your personality is often thought of as a sign of a mental health condition, such as depression or bipolar disorder. But some physical illnesses can also alter your behavior, such as a urinary tract infection and dementia. |