Anger Issues: Take the Test

This free 21-item test can help recognize the signs of anger issues.

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The following assessment is not a diagnostic tool. Only a licensed mental-health practitioner or doctor can properly diagnose mental health conditions, but we believe assessments can be a valuable first step toward getting treatment. All results are completely anonymous.

Do You Have Anger Issues?

This short, free 21-item test measures a variety of symptoms and feelings associated with anger, such as anger about the present and future, anger towards the self, and hostile feelings toward others.

Who Is This Anger Test For?

This test is for anyone who feels like they may be struggling with anger issues. It can help you better understand your feelings and determine if you might benefit from reaching out to a mental health professional to discuss your concerns. Each question relates to life experiences common among those with anger management issues.

About This Anger Test

This anger test is based on the Clinical Anger Scale devised by Professor William E. Snell. Each response is scored on a 4-point scale, which add up to a sum corresponding to different levels of clinical anger—minimal, mild, moderate, or severe.

Analyses of the test have demonstrated its internal consistency and test-retest reliability. The scale may be used in clinical settings to assess a person's anger and to compare results from one visit to the next.

A doctor may use a scale like this to determine if treatment is needed. They will also help determine if you have a mental health condition such as depression, bipolar disorder, or PTSD, which could be partly responsible for anger issues you may be dealing with.

Other Anger Tests

The Clinical Anger Scale is not the only anger test that may be used by clinicians or mental health professionals. Below are some other examples of tests that may be used to identify if you are dealing with anger management issues:

• Multidimensional Anger Inventory
• Buss-Durkee Hostility Inventory
• Anger Self-Report Questionnaire
• Novaco Anger Scale and Provocation Inventory

What to Know About Anger Issues

Anger is a normal human emotion that everyone feels from time to time. Like other emotions, anger is a way to express our feelings and can be a signal to ourselves and others of our physical or psychological needs in that moment.

Frequent bouts of intense anger or difficulty controlling those feelings, however, may be a sign that you have anger issues. Anger that is out of hand can have a negative impact on your daily life by affecting your work, your interpersonal relationships, and your overall mental health.

Anger can also be a sign that you may be dealing with a different mental health issue requiring care and treatment recommended by a mental health professional.

Signs of Anger Issues

Anger does not always manifest in the same way for everyone. It may be marked by physical signs, emotional responses, or behavioral changes.

Some of the physical signs of anger include things like the following:

• rapid heartbeat or elevated blood pressure
• grinding or clenching your teeth
  
• tension, such as in your muscles
• feeling agitated or even overheated
• extra energy
  

You may also notice emotional changes like the following:

• irritation or frustration
• anxiety
• guilt
• sadness or depressed mood

Anger may give you the feeling that you have lost control, or have said and done things you regret afterwards. In many cases, a friend or loved one may be the one to let you know they are concerned about your anger.

If you are concerned about your self-assessment results, or otherwise feel like anger management is an issue for you, talk to your doctor or a mental health professional about next steps.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

1. Snell WE Jr, Gum S, Shuck RL, Mosley JA, Hite TL. The Clinical Anger Scale: preliminary reliability and validity. J Clin Psychol. 1995 Mar;51(2):215-26. doi: 10.1002/1097-4679(199503)51:23.0.co;2-z
2. Siegel JM. The Multidimensional Anger Inventory. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1986 Jul;51(1):191-200. doi: 10.1037/0022-3514.51.1.191
3. Vassar M, Hale W. Reliability reporting across studies using the Buss Durkee Hostility Inventory. J Interpers Violence. 2009 Jan;24(1):20-37. doi: 10.1177/0886260508314931
4. Zelin ML, Adler G, Myerson PG. Anger self-report: an objective questionnaire for the measurement of aggression. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1972 Oct;39(2):340. doi: 10.1037/h0033416
5. Moeller SB, Novaco RW, Heinola-Nielsen V, Hougaard H. Validation of the Novaco Anger Scale-Provocation Inventory (Danish) With Nonclinical, Clinical, and Offender Samples. Assessment. 2016 Oct;23(5):624-36. doi: 10.1177/1073191115583713

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