Post by LadyBlue on Jan 16, 2012 16:41:46 GMT -5
A group of researchers at the Seattle VA Medical Center looked at rates of PTSD and anger problems among a group of 117 Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans.
Similar to other reports, the veterans they looked at exhibited high rates of PTSD. In fact, around 40% had PTSD and an additional 18% almost had a PTSD diagnosis, or what is often referred to as subthreshold PTSD (that is, they were struggling with some severe symptoms of PTSD but not quite enough symptoms to meet criteria for a full PTSD diagnosis).
In addition, over half of the veterans with PTSD indicated that they had been aggressive in the past 4 months, such as threatening physical violence, destroying property, and having a physical fight with someone. Veterans with almost a PTSD diagnosis reported just about the same amount of aggressive behavior as the veterans with PTSD.
There appears to definitely be a connection between the experience of PTSD symptoms and aggressive behavior among Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans. Veterans with PTSD and with almost a PTSD diagnosis were much more likely to be aggressive than those veterans without PTSD.
Individuals with PTSD may have intense and unpredictable emotional experiences, and anger and aggressive behavior may ways of establishing a sense of control. Anger may also be a way of trying to express or release tension connected to uncomfortable emotions often associated with PTSD, such as shame and guilt.
ptsd.about.com/od/ptsdandthemilitary/a/Iraq_anger.htm
Similar to other reports, the veterans they looked at exhibited high rates of PTSD. In fact, around 40% had PTSD and an additional 18% almost had a PTSD diagnosis, or what is often referred to as subthreshold PTSD (that is, they were struggling with some severe symptoms of PTSD but not quite enough symptoms to meet criteria for a full PTSD diagnosis).
In addition, over half of the veterans with PTSD indicated that they had been aggressive in the past 4 months, such as threatening physical violence, destroying property, and having a physical fight with someone. Veterans with almost a PTSD diagnosis reported just about the same amount of aggressive behavior as the veterans with PTSD.
There appears to definitely be a connection between the experience of PTSD symptoms and aggressive behavior among Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans. Veterans with PTSD and with almost a PTSD diagnosis were much more likely to be aggressive than those veterans without PTSD.
Individuals with PTSD may have intense and unpredictable emotional experiences, and anger and aggressive behavior may ways of establishing a sense of control. Anger may also be a way of trying to express or release tension connected to uncomfortable emotions often associated with PTSD, such as shame and guilt.
ptsd.about.com/od/ptsdandthemilitary/a/Iraq_anger.htm