Anger and Psychotrauma: Data From Military and Civilians

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is mainly associated with several emotions such as anger, guilt or shame. By interfering with psychotherapeutic work these emotions can be problematic. When suffering from PTSD, pervasive anger can also have relational consequences. Anger and PTSD are mutually reinforcing: anger can aggravate PTSD symptoms and aggressive behaviours, and conversely, PTSD promotes high levels of anger and aggression. A few explanatory hypotheses have been proposed. In terms of personality factors, anger-treatment may promote the severity of PTSD symptoms and the development of aggressive behaviours. In terms of stressors, exposure to combat and combat-related moral harms could play a role in the relationship between PTSD, anger and traumatic experiences over the course of life. Finally, in clinical terms, in the presence of PTSD, anger and aggressive behaviours may be triggered by substance abuse and depression.

Within the Anglo-Saxon literature, it is recognized that both civilians and military personnel with PTSD exhibit high levels of anger, with a possible predominance among military personnel. While we know that anger management mechanisms can be strongly influenced by cultural aspects and the type of event, there is no data in the French population.

This study proposes to fill in our knowledge of anger-PSTD relationships in the French population and by comparing civilian and military population.