PTSD Symptoms and Family Versus Stranger Violence in Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans

Several studies have demonstrated a link between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and aggressive, violent behavior among Veterans. Data from Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans were used to examine the association between specific PTSD symptoms and family and stranger violence. Results indicated that combat exposure, anger symptoms, substance use, and flashbacks were related to different types of violence (i.e., family versus stranger), and gender differences between violence types were found.