The Relations Between Traumatic Exposures, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and Anger in Male and Female Veterans

Abstract

Military personnel who have served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom have experienced high rates of combat exposure, which is associated with posttraumatic stress disorder. Less is known about the relations between military sexual trauma (sexual harassment, assault, and rape while serving in the military) and posttraumatic stress disorder. Little is known about anger problems in this Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran population, which research from prior conflicts suggests may be a consequence of both traumas and posttraumatic stress disorder. Anger is an emotional state closely related to aggression, hostility, and violence. Veterans who have difficulty controlling anger are at greater risk of interpersonal and employment problems. Uncontrolled anger can lead to aggressive or violent behavior, posing health risks to those around the veteran and increasingly the likelihood that the veteran will come into conflict with the law. This article contributes a review of the literature on what little is known about military sexual trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder as well as reviews literature on anger, which may be associated with high combat exposure or military sexual trauma. Notably, there is almost no research on any of these problems among women veterans. Given that women make up more than 15% of deployed service members in Iraq and Afghanistan, research on these relations in women is imperative.

Keywords:

• military
• veterans
• gender
• women
• anger
• PTSD
• trauma
• aggression

Notes

¹ Author conversations with founder of Grace Under Fire and communications director of Swords to Plowshares.