Warzone violence in Vietnam: An examination of premilitary, military, and postmilitary factors in PTSD in‐patients

Abstract

The impact of childhood victimization and other premilitary factors on warzone abusive violence was examined with 177 Vietnam combat veteran inpatients. Premilitary and military variables were also examined in relationship to postmilitary variables, including violence and PTSD. Statistical analyses showed that none of the premilitary variables predicted warzone violence. High combat exposure did, however, predict warzone abusive violence and PTSD. In addition, participation in warzone violence predicted postmilitary violence to self, spouse, and others. Although high rates of childhood victimization and high levels of combat exposure were found, neither predicted postmilitary violence, criminal activities, drug/alcohol problems, or suicide attempts. Low childhood adjustment ratings and school suspensions predicted adult alcohol abuse and drug abuse, respectively. These findings and their implication for treatment are discussed.

Moral transgression during the Vietnam War: a path analysis of the psychological impact of veterans’ involvement in wartime atrocities

“…In one study of Vietnam veterans, guilt was the most prominent predictor of suicide attempts, over and above PTSD symptom severity and depression (Hendin & Haas, 1991). Similarly, a strong relationship between atrocity involvement and hostility (Strayer & Ellenhorn, 1975) has been found, as have associations between involvement in wartime atrocities and postmilitary acts of interpersonal violence (Beckham et al, 1997; Hiley-Young et al, 1995). …”

“…In turn, participation in wartime atrocities has been linked with increased suicidal ideation (Braš et al, 2007; Hiley-Young et al, 1995; Maguen et al, 2011; Maguen et al, 2012; Sher, 2009), with depression and PTSD symptoms partially mediating that link (Maguen et al, 2011). In one study of Vietnam veterans, guilt was the most prominent predictor of suicide attempts, over and above PTSD symptom severity and depression (Hendin & Haas, 1991).…”

Combat-related guilt mediates the relations between exposure to combat-related abusive violence and psychiatric diagnoses

“…[13,[15][16][17][18][19] Some have earlier hypothesized that combat-related guilt may mediate the relation between participation in and/or having witnessed combat-related abusive violence and PTSD or other trauma-related psychopathology. [1,4,20] Importantly, no earlier study has directly examined the mediation hypothesis. In this study, we hypothesized that combat-related guilt would mediate the association between exposure to combatrelated abusive violence and the presence of both PTSD and Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) among Vietnam Veterans.…”

A cluster analysis of symptom patterns and adjustment in Vietnam combat veterans with chronic posttraumatic stress disorder

“…A previous study found that this measure yielded internally consistent scores and was positively associated with PTSD severity. In addition, scores on this measure have been found to be positively associated with both combat exposure and post-military violence against self, spouse, and others (Hiley-Young et al, 1995). This instrument was available for 154 participants in the validation sample and 149 participants in the crossvalidation sample.…”

“…In order to measure participation in or witnessing of abusive violence (i.e., witnessing or participating in the hurting, killing, or mutilation of Vietnamese), a 6-item subscale from the Vietnam Era Stress Inventory was administered (Hiley-Young, Blake, Abueg, Rozynko, & Gusman, 1995). Frequency of each event was rated as never (did not occur), rarely (once every month), occasionally (once every 2 weeks), often (one or two times each week), or very often (three or more times a week).…”