Couple Adjustment and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms in National Guard Veterans of the Iraq War

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may strongly impact Service members' relationships. The associations between PTSD and relationship adjustment among Army National Guard members with romantic partners was examined at two or three months (timepoint 1) and one year (timepoint 2) post-deployment. Soldiers who screened positive for PTSD at timepoint 1 had poorer relationship adjustment (e.g., satisfaction, communication, intimacy, support) at both timepoints, with dysphoria symptoms (e.g., loss of interest, emotional numbing, irritability) having a particularly negative effect on relationship adjustment.