Abstract
Two hundred and forty-one Vietnam combat veterans with chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) completed measures of PTSD symptom severity, combat exposure, depression, hostility, interpersonal violence, substance abuse, and arrest history. The majority of veterans with PTSD (63%) reported being arrested at least once after returning from Vietnam. Logistic regression analyses indicated that PTSD severity was positively correlated with arrest history even when other variables associated with criminal behavior were taken into account. Recommendations for evaluation and treatment of individuals with PTSD who are at risk of becoming involved with the criminal justice system are discussed.
