Antisocial behavior and post-traumatic stress disorder in Vietnam veterans

Abstract

Assessment data from 118 Vietnam‐era veterans seeking psychological services at two Los Angeles Veterans Administration Medical Centers were analyzed to examine the potential relationships between number of preadult and adult antisocial behaviors, as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM‐III; American Psychiatric Association, 1980) criteria for antisocial personality disorder, level of combat exposure, and development of combat‐related post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Results of hierarchical regression analyses indicated that combat exposure level was related significantly to PTSD symptomatology, whereas number of preadult antisocial behaviors was not. However, both combat exposure level and preadult behaviors, which were not correlated significantly, were related significantly to number of adult antisocial behaviors. There were no significant interaction effects. Results were consistent with a theoretical model of PTSD development that emphasizes the role of trauma vs. premorbid characterological factors. In addition, the significant association between combat exposure and adult antisocial behavior indicates that trauma may play a role in the development and/or maintenance of adult antisocial behaviors observed in some Vietnam veterans.

Long-term effects of trauma: Post-traumatic stress among civilian internees of the japanese during world war II

“…Green, Grace, Lindy, Gleser, & Leonard, 1990;McFall, Smith, Roszell, Tarver, & Malas, 1990;Pearce, Schauer, Garfield, Ohlde, & Patterson, 1985;Resnick et al, 1989). Thus, one would expect a positive correlation between length of internment and levels of post-traumatic stress.…”

A High Risk Twin Study of Combat-Related PTSD Comorbidity

“…PTSD has also been shown to have high lifetime rates of psychiatric comorbidity (Davidson et al, 1991, Helzer et al, 1987Keane & Wolfe, 1990;Kessler et al 1995;Kulka et al, 1990). Due to the high prevalence of PTSD in veteran samples, many studies of PTSD comorbidity have focused on Vietnam Veterans (Centers for Disease Control [CDC], 1987;Davidson et al, 1989;Faustman &White, 1989;Keane & Wolfe, 1990;Kulka et al, 1990;Orsillo et al, 1996;Resnick et al, 1989;Sierles et al, 1983). Although identifying the mechanisms underlying PTSD comorbidity is important for understanding the etiology of and developing treatment for the disorder, these mechanisms remain unclear.…”

Factors associated with antisocial behavior in combat veterans

“…Another study of Vietnam veterans [Yager et al, 1984] found a significant association between combat exposure and subsequent arrests and convictions that persisted when preservice background factors were controlled. Similarly, both pre-adult antisocial behavior and combat exposure were significantly linked with postmilitary antisocial behavior in a sample of Vietnam veterans [Resnick et al, 1989]. The relationship between combat exposure and antisocial behavior has not yet been studied for wars subsequent to Vietnam, although one study of Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans found modest associations between greater combat exposure and higher postwar incidence of antisocial and aggressive behaviors [Killgore et al, 2008].…”

“…Existing research suggests that exposure to combat may be a substantial risk factor for antisocial behavior [Barrett et al, 1996;Killgore et al, 2008;Resnick et al, 1989;Yager et al, 1984]. Barrett et al [1996] found that Army veterans who experienced intensive combat during the Vietnam War were at increased risk for engaging in antisocial behavior.…”