Anger problems and posttraumatic stress disorder in male and female National Guard and Reserve Service members

Abstract

Anger is a common problem among veterans and has been associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study aimed to improve understanding of how anger and PTSD co-occur by examining gender differences and differences by whether the triggering traumatic event is deployment-related vs. civilian-related in current service members. A representative cohort of Reserve and National Guard service personnel (n = 1,293) were interviewed to assess for deployment- or civilian-related traumas, PTSD, and anger. The prevalence of self-reported anger problems was estimated among male (n = 1,036) and female (n = 257) service members. Log Poisson regression models with robust standard errors were used to estimate the associations of problems with anger with PTSD and PTSD symptom severity for men and women. Self-reported anger problems were common among male (53.0%) and female (51.3%) service members. Adjusted prevalence ratios (PR) showed associations between anger and PTSD connected to both civilian- and deployment-related traumas (PR were 1.77 (95% CI 1.52 – 2.05) and 1.85 (95% CI 1.62 – 2.12), respectively). PTSD symptom severity was also associated with anger. This study was cross-sectional and so a causal relationship between PTSD and anger cannot be established. Problems with anger are common among male and female current Guard and Reserve members. These findings suggest that anger treatment should be made available to current service members and that clinicians should assess anger problems irrespective of gender. Future research should examine the effectiveness of anger treatment protocols by gender.

Trauma exposure and PTSD symptoms associate with violence in inner city civilians

“…Added to these medications are Accelerated Resolution Therapy (Kip et al, 2013) and meditation and mindfulness, which have also been proposed for aggression disturbances (Cloitre et al, 2011). Finally, trauma-related anger is thought to be an important risk factor for aggression (Novaco, Swanson, Gonzalez, Gahm, & Reger, 2012; Worthen et al, 2014). Cognitive-behavioral therapies that address anger, and that are helpful for reducing aggression, are also important to consider (Taft, Creech, & Kachadourian, 2012).…”

Randomized clinical trial pilot study of prolonged exposure versus present centred affect regulation therapy for PTSD and anger problems with male military combat veterans

“…Military combat‐related PTSD often is complicated by problems with anger, aggression, violence, and suicidality (Gonzalez, Novaco, Reger, & Gahm, ; Hellmuth, Stappenbeck, Hoerster, & Jakupcak, ; Novaco & Chemtob, ): one in three veterans with PTSD report having threatened someone with violence, and 14–20% report destroying property or getting into fights, versus 5–10% of those with mild or no PTSD symptoms (Jakupcak et al, ). Military veterans in mental health services also identify anger management more often than any other problem as one of their top goals (Rosen, Adler, & Tiet, ), and PTSD is strongly associated with anger problems among military veterans (Orth & Wieland, ; Worthen et al, ).…”

Marital Satisfaction, Family Support, and Pre-Deployment Resiliency Factors Related to Mental Health Outcomes for Reserve and National Guard Soldiers

“…These include employment and financial problems (Griffith, 2015; Riviere, Kendall-Robbins, McGurk, Castro, & Hoge, 2011), relationship and family difficulties (Faber, Willerton, Clymer, MacDermid, & Weiss, 2008; Griffith, 2010), and other emotional difficulties. Rates are particularly high for anger; approximately half of NG/reserve soldiers report anger control problems (Sayer et al, 2010; Worthen et al, 2014). These differences may be attributable to the unique experience of NG/reserve soldiers with their return to civilian status post-deployment.…”

“…deployment preparation, unit support) and family and spousal relationships (relationship level in the model).There is a growing body of work around these social-ecological factors and the ways in which they may promote resiliency, particularly as they relate to PTSD. Some research has focused on demographic factors linked to various mental health outcomes for military personnel; for example higher education and employment have been demonstrated to be protective against anger (Elbogen et al, 2010; Worthen et al, 2014). However, to our knowledge, experiential and social factors that may be protective for other mental health outcomes, such as depression, anger and anxiety have not been extensively studied in military populations.…”