LaMotte Adam D, Taft Casey T, Weatherill Robin P, Casement Melynda D, Creech Suzannah K, Milberg William P, Fortier Catherine B, McGlinchey Regina E
National Center for PTSD.
Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh.
Psychol Trauma. 2017 Jan;9(1):113-116. doi: 10.1037/tra0000178. Epub 2016 Aug 15.
This study investigated sleep problems and physical pain as moderators of the relationship between PTSD symptoms and aggression among returning veterans. Prior research has demonstrated associations between PTSD symptoms and aggression, but little work has sought to identify moderators of this relationship. Sleep problems and physical pain are both common clinical problems among veterans and have theoretical links to aggression.
Participants were 103 returning service members and veterans recruited from the greater Boston area and enrolled in the VA Translational Research Center for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Stress Disorders (TRACTS). Aggression outcomes included physical and psychological intimate partner aggression (IPA), as well as physical and psychological general aggression (GA). Variables were measured via self-report questionnaires, with the exception of PTSD symptoms, which were assessed via clinician interview.
Bivariate correlations revealed significant associations between PTSD symptoms, sleep problems, physical pain, and aggression outcomes. Both sleep problems and physical pain significantly moderated the relationship between PTSD symptoms and physical GA, such that this relationship became stronger at higher levels of these moderator variables. However, moderation was not found for the other aggression outcomes.
Findings suggest that sleep problems and physical pain strengthen the relationship between veterans' PTSD symptoms and physical aggression toward others. Although further replication and elucidation is needed, these factors may disinhibit aggression among those at higher risk due to their PTSD symptoms. (PsycINFO Database Record
本研究调查了睡眠问题和身体疼痛作为创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）症状与退伍军人攻击行为之间关系的调节因素。先前的研究已经证明了PTSD症状与攻击行为之间的关联，但很少有研究试图确定这种关系的调节因素。睡眠问题和身体疼痛都是退伍军人中常见的临床问题，并且在理论上与攻击行为有关联。
参与者为103名从大波士顿地区招募的退伍军人和现役军人，他们参加了退伍军人事务部创伤性脑损伤（TBI）与应激障碍转化研究中心（TRACTS）。攻击行为的结果包括身体和心理上的亲密伴侣攻击行为（IPA），以及身体和心理上的一般攻击行为（GA）。除了通过临床医生访谈评估的PTSD症状外，其他变量均通过自我报告问卷进行测量。
双变量相关性分析显示，PTSD症状、睡眠问题、身体疼痛与攻击行为结果之间存在显著关联。睡眠问题和身体疼痛均显著调节了PTSD症状与身体GA之间的关系，即在这些调节变量水平较高时，这种关系会变得更强。然而，在其他攻击行为结果中未发现调节作用。
研究结果表明，睡眠问题和身体疼痛会加强退伍军人PTSD症状与对他人身体攻击行为之间的关系。尽管需要进一步的重复研究和阐明，但这些因素可能会使因PTSD症状而处于较高风险的人抑制攻击行为的能力减弱。（PsycINFO数据库记录）
