Factors associated with antisocial behavior in combat veterans

Abstract

The objective of this study was to identify factors associated with antisocial behavior in 1,543 Marines who deployed to combat zones in support of conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan during 2002-2007. Five factors were associated with antisocial behavior in multivariate analyses: post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, deployment-related stressors, combat exposure, younger age, and being divorced. PTSD symptoms had a stronger association with antisocial behavior than any other variable. A unique and important finding of this study was the association between deployment-related stressors and a higher incidence of antisocial behavior. Because deployment-related stressors are potentially modifiable, the military may be able to address them in concrete ways such as by shortening deployments and improving communication with home.

The Role of Impulsivity Dimensions in the Relation Between Probable Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Aggressive Behavior Among Substance Users

“…Consistent with these theories, individuals with (vs. without) PTSD report significantly greater aggressive behavior in general (e.g., Begić & Jokić-Begić, 2001; McFall, Fontana, Raskind, & Rosenheck, 1999) and in specific situational contexts (e.g., antisocial behaviors, partner violence; Booth-Kewley et al, 2010; Teten et al, 2010). Indeed, meta-analyses provide support for a medium to large effect of PTSD on verbal and physical aggression (Orth & Wieland, 2006; Olatunji, Ciesielski, & Tolin, 2010) – an effect that is stronger than for other anxiety disorders (Olatunji et al, 2010).…”

Impulsive behaviors as an emotion regulation strategy: Examining associations between PTSD, emotion dysregulation, and impulsive behaviors among substance dependent inpatients

“…PTSD is a serious clinical concern, associated with considerable functional impairment (Kessler & Frank, 1997) and high rates of co-occurring psychiatric disorders (Kessler et al, 1995). Furthermore, individuals with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been found to be at-risk for a wide range of impulsive behaviors, including substance misuse (Brady, Back, & Coffey, 2004; Jakupcak et al, 2010; Kessler, Sonnega, Bromet, Hughes, & Nelson, 1995; Ouimette, Read, & Brown, 2005), antisocial behaviors (Booth-Kewley, Larson, High-McRoy, Garland, & Gaskin, 2010; Resnick, Foy, Donahoe, & Miller, 1989), interpersonal aggression (Galovski & Lyons, 2004; Monson, Fredman, & Dekel, 2010; Orcutt, King, & King, 2003), binge eating and purging (Gleaves, Eberenz, & May, 1998; Holzer, Uppala, Wonderlich, Crosby, & Simonich, 2008), deliberate self-harm (Cloitre, Koenen, Cohen, & Han, 2002; Sacks, Flood, Dennis, Hertzberg, & Beckham, 2008), and risky sexual behavior (Rosenberg et al, 2001). Despite evidence for elevated rates of impulsive behaviors within PTSD, however, few studies have examined the factors that may underlie the association between PTSD and impulsive behaviors.…”

Boredom and Distraction in Multiple Unmanned Vehicle Supervisory Control

“…In addition to high job dissatisfaction, boredom has been linked to greater anxiety and stress [17,25], particularly for military personnel [26], as well as premature death due to cardiovascular disease [27,28]. Other long term consequences of boredom can include absenteeism and poor retention [17].…”