The traditional reserve and deference of the British character has apparently almost disappeared, and is being replaced with anger. The British Association of Anger Management produced statistics earlier this year to show what an aggressive, irritated and stressed world we now live in: 65 per cent of those who work in offices experience office rage (only 65 per cent?), while 80 per cent of British drivers have been involved in a road rage incident.

Only last week I had to hurriedly lock my windows and doors, before smiling benignly while I told an enraged and ranting motorist that his driving wasn’t in accord with the Highway Code and lacked common sense or reason. Thirty one per cent of people are angered by the difficulty of balancing home and office life, and 60 per cent are infuriated by other people who gossip at work.

Tranquillisers are not the answer. In some cases, including, I suspect, that of the impulsive Pimlico driver whom I encountered, they might make them worse. Dietary changes may help: a British study published in 2002 showed that giving omega-3 fatty acids to adult prisoners reduced their disciplinary offence rate by 26 per cent. In 1996 the behaviour of Japanese students who had suffered problems with aggression and stress improved after three months of omega-3 fish oil.

Tomorrow, BBC Two will feature a trial conducted by the Middlesbrough Education Authority on the effect of fish oil on children’s cognitive skills (reading, spelling ability) and behaviour. The children were assessed at the beginning of the trial, then after three months and six months. The eight primary schools involved serve different catchment areas. The trial was random, placebo-based and crossover (ie, a well-conducted scientific trial). During the week the fish oil was handed out by staff, and at weekends by parents. The beneficial influence of fish oil on intelligence and behaviour in children of different ages has previously been demonstrated in Durham.

The BBC programme is to be followed on October 22 by a conference in Brussels on the effects of nutrition on learning and behaviour. Among the subjects will be the effects of nutrition on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and dyspraxia (in which the motor system is impaired). One of the lecturers will be Dr Madeleine Portwood, senior educational psychologist in Durham, who was involved in the Middlesbrough trial.

Horizon, BBC Two, tomorrow, 9pm

Europe’s Children — Our Concern conference, Brussels, e-mail: ecoc@ecoc.be or visit www.ecoc.be or phone +32 (0) 2 537 4836