Changes in anger and aggression after treatment for PTSD in active duty military

• Published in: Journal of clinical psychology Vol. 76; no. 3; pp. 493 - 507
• Main Authors: Miles, Shannon R., Dillon, Kirsten H., Jacoby, Vanessa M., Hale, Willie J., Dondanville, Katherine A., Wachen, Jennifer Schuster, Yarvis, Jeffrey S., Peterson, Alan L., Mintz, Jim, Litz, Brett T., Young‐McCaughan, Stacey, Resick, Patricia A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wiley Periodicals Inc 01-03-2020
• Subjects: active military; Adult; Aggression; Anger; cognitive processing therapy; Female; Humans; Male; Military Personnel - psychology; Post traumatic stress disorder; posttraumatic stress disorder; Psychotherapy; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - psychology; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic - therapy; active military; aggression; anger; cognitive processing therapy; posttraumatic stress disorder
• ISSN: 0021-9762; 1097-4679
• DOI: 10.1002/jclp.22878

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.