Noteboom The Law Firm

Study Sheds Light On Anger in Returning Veterans

June 22, 2010 - A new study focusing on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anger in returning veterans has been released. The study concluded there are hyperarousal symptoms of PTSD that are connected to both anger and aggressiveness in soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. These symptoms include:

• Sleep issues;
• Irritability;
• Problems concentrating;
• Jumpiness; and
• Constantly feeling "on alert."

 For those veterans suffering from PTSD or anger issues, this study may help spot associated warning signs and indicators, according to researchers. Veterans who always feel hostile find it hard to fit into a civilian world where those feelings are not accepted. The study highlights risk factors that may raise the likelihood veterans will suffer from anger and agitation once they cycle back to the civilian world.

Over the course of the study researchers interviewed 676 veterans. Researchers discovered patterns in those veterans who struggled to control their violent behavior. Specifically, veterans with such anger issues were more likely to have had experienced certain behaviors than veterans not suffering from anger issues. These behaviors include:  

• Being more likely to have witnessed family violence prior to their time in the military;
• Firing a weapon during their deployment;
• Being deployed for more than 1 year; or
• Continuing to experience hyperarousal symptoms.

 Veterans housing these aggressive urges also reported suffering from hyperarousal symptoms at a higher rate than "non-angry" veterans. They were also more likely to suffer child abuse and re-living traumatic events. Finally, researchers also isolated certain factors seemingly linked to anger management:

• Having a parent with a criminal history;
• Avoiding reminders of the trauma; and
• Suffering hyperarousal symptoms.

 Learning more about these early indicators and how to manage them will help veterans and their families. If it can be accurately predicted which veterans will suffer, it is possible to treat before it gets out of hand.