Citation

Miles SR, Dillon KH, Jacoby VM, Hale WJ, Dondanville KA, Wachen JS, Yarvis JS, Peterson AL, Mintz J, Litz BT, Young-McCaughan S, Resick PA. J. Clin. Psychol. (Hoboken) 2019; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Affiliation

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/jclp.22878

PMID

31733126

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether treating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) reduces anger and aggression and if changes in PTSD symptoms are associated with changes in anger and aggression.

METHOD: Active duty service members (n = 374) seeking PTSD treatment in two randomized clinical trials completed a pretreatment assessment, 12 treatment sessions, and a posttreatment assessment. Outcomes included the Revised Conflict Tactics Scale and state anger subscale of the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory.

RESULTS: Treatment groups were analyzed together. There were small to moderate pretreatment to posttreatment reductions in anger (standardized mean difference [SMD] = -0.25), psychological aggression (SMD = -0.43), and physical aggression (SMD = -0.25). The majority of participants continued to endorse anger and aggression at posttreatment. Changes in PTSD symptoms were mildly to moderately associated with changes in anger and aggression.

CONCLUSIONS: PTSD treatments reduced anger and aggression with effects similar to anger and aggression treatments; innovative psychotherapies are needed.

© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Language: en

Keywords

active military; aggression; anger; cognitive processing therapy; posttraumatic stress disorder