Cognitions and Anger in Veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder from Military Sexual Trauma

Military sexual trauma affects both males and females in the military. Treatment for PTSD from MST follows from clinical trials of therapies among sexual trauma victims. However, research suggests that MST may be different from other traumatic events in the severity and manifestation of PTSD symptoms and sequelae. This study examined trauma-related cognitions and anger in PTSD from MST and how these PTSD-related sequelae manifest across genders, ethnicities, and sexual trauma history groups. Individuals with history of MST only and MST + childhood sexual trauma reported more negative cognitions about the self and self-blame for the trauma than individuals with MST + other adult sexual trauma. Male gender was associated a higher report of with inward expression of anger and overall expression of anger compared to females. African Americans and Hispanics reported more State Anger than Caucasians in the sample. PTSD-related cognitions and anger were examined together to assess correlation. Significant positive correlations were found between cognition scales and anger scales. Only anger control had a negative correlation with the report of negative cognitions of self. No significant differences were found in the analyses of PTSD severity and B, C, D symptom patterns across gender, ethnic groups, and sexual trauma history groups. A model assessing the independent contribution of anger, trauma-related cognitions, and sexual trauma group on PTSD severity revealed that a State Anger subscale and negative cognitions about self were significant in explaining PTSD severity. Non-significant findings on gender and ethnicity with qualitative differences on means implore the need for replication with larger sample sizes to increase power. Conclusions and implications are discussed.