Problem anger in veterans and military personnel: Prevalence, predictors, and associated harms of suicide and violence

Abstract

Background: Problem anger is increasingly identified as an important issue, and may be associated with suicidality and violence. This study investigates the relationship between problem anger, suicidality, and violence amongst veterans and military personnel.

Methods: Cross-sectional survey data from n = 12,806 military personnel and veterans were subject to analyses. These considered the weighted prevalence of problem anger, while further analyses of veterans (n = 4326) considered risk factors and co-occurrence with other psychiatric conditions. Path analyses examined inter-relationships involving anger, violence and suicidality.

Results: There were 30.7% of veterans and 16.4% of military personnel that reported past month problem anger, while 14.9% of veterans and 7.4% of military personnel reported physical violence. There were higher levels of suicidality among veterans (30.3%), than military personnel (14.3%). Logistic regression models indicated that PTSD was the strongest risk factor for problem anger (PCL-5, OR = 21.68), while there were small but substantial increases in anger rates associated with depression (OR = 15.62) and alcohol dependence (OR = 6.55). Path models indicated that problem anger had an influence on suicide attempts, occurring primarily through suicidal ideation, and an influence on violence. Influences of problem anger on suicidal ideation and violence remained significant when controlling for co-occurring mental health problems.

Conclusions: Problem anger, violence, and suicidality are common and inter-related issues among military personnel and veterans. Problem anger is a unique correlate of suicidality, supporting the need for anger to be included as part of violence and suicide risk assessment, and clinician training.

Keywords: Anger; Military; Suicide; Veteran; Violence.