PTSD veterans 2-3 times more likely to be involved with domestic violence

PTSD ups veterans' domestic violence risk
Published: Nov. 11, 2008
ST. LOUIS, Nov. 11 (UPI) -- An increasing number of veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder means an increased risk of domestic violence, U.S. researchers said.

Monica Matthieu, an expert on veterans' mental health, and Peter Hovmand, domestic violence expert, both at Washington University in St. Louis, are merging their research interests to design community prevention strategies to address what they say is an emerging public health problem.

"Treatments for domestic violence are very different than those for PTSD," Matthieu said in a statement. "The Department of Veterans Affairs has mental health services and treatments for PTSD, yet these services need to be combined with the specialized domestic violence intervention programs offered by community agencies for those veterans engaging in battering behavior against intimate partners and families."

Research in the Veterans Administration shows that male veterans with PTSD are two to three times more likely than veterans without PTSD to engage in intimate partner violence, and more likely to be involved in the legal system, Matthieu said.

go here for more

http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2008/11/11
/PTSD_ups_veterans_domestic_violence_risk/UPI-54681226384157/

I've posted about this many times. This was the last post I did on it and it is important to understand.
Thursday, November 6, 2008

PTSD:When domestic violence is not what you think
I've written often about this issue. When it comes to PTSD and domestic violence, sometimes, it isn't what you think.

Are there combat veterans who commit domestic violence without PTSD being involved? Absolutely. We forget that the men and women who serve are just like the rest of us.There are many cases where abuse and domestic violence have the contributing factor of PTSD. This is not blame the victim but without knowing what PTSD is and what it does to some people, all too often the reaction of family members contributes to the escalation of angry situations.

click the link for more of this so you can understand there is a difference and it does not have to happen to anyone.