Inability to control anger or aggression after stroke.

Using the 10-item Spielberger Trait Anger Scale, the authors interviewed 145 patients with stroke regarding inability to control anger or aggression (ICAA). Poststroke depression and emotional incontinence were also assessed. ICAA was present in 47 patients (32%) and was closely related to motor dysfunction, dysarthria, emotional incontinence, and lesions affecting frontal-lenticulocapsular-pontine base areas. ICAA seems to be one of the major behavioral symptoms in patients with stroke.