PTSD

Many Veterans With PTSD Also Experience Severe Depression

PTSD Alongside Major Depression Ups Soldier’s Risks for Anger Problems

Combined symptoms from comorbid conditions can intensify those symptoms and the individual’s health risks. When the individual is a soldierPTSD experiencing PTSD and depression, it can create anger issues. The American Psychiatric Association has recently released findings from a study which finds that veterans who have PTSD plus serious depression show more signs of anger and themselves feel they may be at greater risk for acting out in dangerous ways.

The University of California, Irvine study examined health information on 254 female and 1,823 male soldiers who had served in Afghanistan and/or Iraq and then looked for support on base. Intake histories categorized the soldiers as experiencing either: major depression alone, PTSD alone, both PTSD and major depression or neither. In addition, healthcare professionals made note of any anger symptoms of verbalizations regarding harmful intent. Looking through the data, researchers found that a comorbid diagnosis of major depression and PTSD held the greatest risk for heightened anger and potential violent outbursts.

Since over 70 percent of those who met diagnostic criteria for PTSD also met the criteria for major depression, this is not at all a rare combination. Other studies confirm that anger is a common problem under these circumstances. Finding a way to address this issue is important.

Even if you are not a veteran, you may still be living with symptoms that leave you feeling at the mercy of intense emotions. If you have PTSD or major depression, anger can be a chronic concern. At Family Guidance Center we can help you to confront all of these symptoms and we can give you tools to manage them rather than having them control you. Call us or stop by soon.