Anger and Military Veterans

Abstract

Anger problems are most evident in veterans who are diagnosed with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and have been exposed to combat. Because of the institutionalized role anger plays in military training, identity, and culture, anger problems are also an issue for former soldiers who have neither PTSD nor combat experience. Consequently, anger problems are an issue for many veterans whose inability to manage and express their anger constructively inhibits psychosocial functioning in multiple areas, including personal relationships, employment, self-esteem, and behavioral self-control. Empirically supported group interventions addressing this issue adhere to the principles of evidence-based practice and are particularly important given the current geopolitical climate. This paper reviews some of the current literature on clinical interventions for veterans experiencing anger problems and acknowledges the increasingly important role social workers are playing as mental health service providers to veterans with anger problems at institutions such as the Department of Veterans Affairs.