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Taft CT, Weatherill RP, Suvak MK, Eckhardt C, Pinto LA, Cunningham KJ, Beckham J. PTSD, Anger, Cognition, and Partner Aggression Among Combat Veterans. Paper presented at: International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies Annual Meeting; 2009 Nov 5; Atlanta, GA.
Despite the strong link between PTSD and intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration among veterans, little research has examined mechanisms for this association. We will present preliminary results from an investigation testing the overarching expectation that PTSD severity would be related to IPV through its impact on maladaptive cognitive processes that occur during anger arousal. Specifically, we used the Articulated Thoughts in Simulated Situations paradigm (ATSS; Davison et al., 1983) to assess thoughts during anger arousal among a sample of OEF/OIF veterans. Initial data from this sample (n = 25) indicates that PTSD severity was significantly associated with both physical (r = .62) and psychological (r = .52) aggression perpetration. PTSD severity was also associated with hostile attributions (r = .42) and cognitive biases (r = 62) exhibited during the ATSS. Finally, both physical (r = .45; r = .40) and psychological (r = .56; r = .49) aggression perpetration were significantly associated with ATSS hostile attributions and cognitive biases, respectively. Although the small sample precludes formal tests of mediation, results are consistent with the proposed indirect relationship from PTSD to IPV through anger and maladaptive cognitive processes. Fuller data from a larger sample will be presented during the proposed talk.
