AII
Anger and Irritability Inventory
This exploratory questionnaire describes the components of anger: irritability, the situations that trigger it, expression in words and actions, suppressed anger, and its consequences for relationships. It helps clarify a complaint often raised by the people around the person (partner, family, work), identify any violent behavior, and choose the targets of anger management work.
- Number of questions
- 24 questions
- Estimated duration
- 6 minutes
- Language
- English
- Original name
- Anger and Irritability Inventory
- Target audience
- Adults
- Category
- Emotion regulation, Interpersonal issues
- Exploratory questionnaire
- Exploratory questionnaire
Preview of the 24 questions
Scoring & interpretation
Scoring
| Verbal anger | 13 / 16 |
Anger expressed in words: raising one's voice, yelling, insulting, answering sarcastically, lashing out at someone who had nothing to do with it.
Areas to explore: who the words are aimed at (partner, children, coworkers, strangers), the words used, any threats, how the exchanges end.
See also: BPAQ.
| Acting out | 8 / 16 |
Anger that turns into actions: throwing or breaking things, hitting walls or furniture, taking risks, physical acts toward a person.
Areas to explore: the acts and what or whom they are directed at, injuries or damage, whether children are present, the role of alcohol or other substances, times when the person was afraid of not being able to hold back.
See also: BPAQ.
| Triggers | 6 / 16 |
Situations that make anger rise: unfairness, obstacles, disrespect, the feeling of not being listened to or taken seriously.
Areas to explore: the situations behind the most recent episodes of anger, what they touched in the person (sense of justice, need for respect, need for control), the thoughts that come with rising anger.
| Irritability | 3 / 16 |
Irritation that comes on quickly and over little things, low tolerance for everyday frustrations.
Areas to explore: how long the irritability has been present, when it is strongest (fatigue, hunger, pain, stress), any link with mood, sleep, or substance use.
See also: STAXI-2.
| Suppressed anger | 3 / 16 |
Anger kept inside: resentment, frustrations piling up in silence, anger that returns when thinking back on the situation, a desire for revenge.
Areas to explore: who the anger is held back against, what keeps the person from expressing it, any alternation between holding anger in and exploding, the time spent brooding.
See also: STAXI-2.
| Consequences | 3 / 16 |
What anger costs: tension with loved ones, the fear it causes, criticism from those around the person, regret afterward.
Areas to explore: the relationships affected, concrete consequences (breakups, disciplinary action, complaints), shame or regret after an episode of anger, what the person would like to change.
No validated clinical or psychometric cutoffs have been established for this test yet. The results should therefore be considered exploratory indicators, meant to support the clinical interview, not diagnostic findings.
Scoring
Each statement is scored from 0 (never) to 4 (very often) based on its frequency over the past month. Each domain combines 4 statements spread throughout the questionnaire, giving a score from 0 to 16.
Reading the profile
There is no total score. Domains are ranked from most to least elevated, each with a description of what it covers and points to explore in the interview. The profile distinguishes anger expressed in words or actions from suppressed anger; the two can coexist or alternate in the same person. The "Irritability" and "Triggers" domains show what makes the anger rise, and the "Consequences" domain shows what it costs the person and those close to them.
Clinical cautions
The statement "When I'm angry, I shove or hit someone" is read on its own: any answer other than "Never" calls for an assessment of the risk of violence in the interview, particularly toward a partner or children, as does an elevated answer to "I feel like the people close to me are afraid of how I'll react." Marked irritability can also accompany a depressive episode, an anxiety disorder, bipolar disorder, lack of sleep, or substance use, which should be looked for before working on the anger itself.
Limitations
This exploratory questionnaire has not undergone psychometric validation and has no cutoffs. It supports the clinical interview and does not provide a diagnosis.
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