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Military combat, posttraumatic stress disorder, and criminal behavior in Vietnam veterans.
Bull Am Acad Psychiatry Law. 1987; 15(2):141-62.BA

Abstract

Although data are inconclusive, popular perception has linked military combat, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and criminal behavior. This paper discusses the multifactorial elements of this association that include both conscious and unconscious parameters of psychologic functioning. Testimony on combat-related PTSD has been presented in the courtroom to support veterans' claims of not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI) and diminished capacity and for consideration during judicial sentencing. Because there is a known connection between the degree of combat involvement and PTSD, verification through collateral sources of the veteran's report of combat experiences is an important component of forensic assessment. The DSM-III-defined diagnosis of PTSD and the presence of a dissociative state have particular relevance in NGRI determinations. In other aspects of the judicial process demonstration of the absolute presence or absence of PTSD is often irrelevant and should be replaced by efforts to establish plausible links between provable combat experiences and the circumstances of the crime.

Authors+Show Affiliations

Sparr LF
Psychiatry Service, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Portland, OR 97207.
Reaves ME
No affiliation info available
Atkinson RM
No affiliation info available

MeSH

Combat DisordersCrimeForensic PsychiatryHumansInsanity DefenseMaleStress Disorders, Post-TraumaticVeteransVietnam

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Review

Language

eng

PubMed ID

3325105

Citation

Sparr, L F., et al. "Military Combat, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and Criminal Behavior in Vietnam Veterans." The Bulletin of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, vol. 15, no. 2, 1987, pp. 141-62.
Sparr LF, Reaves ME, Atkinson RM. Military combat, posttraumatic stress disorder, and criminal behavior in Vietnam veterans. Bull Am Acad Psychiatry Law. 1987;15(2):141-62.
Sparr, L. F., Reaves, M. E., & Atkinson, R. M. (1987). Military combat, posttraumatic stress disorder, and criminal behavior in Vietnam veterans. The Bulletin of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, 15(2), 141-62.
Sparr LF, Reaves ME, Atkinson RM. Military Combat, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and Criminal Behavior in Vietnam Veterans. Bull Am Acad Psychiatry Law. 1987;15(2):141-62. PubMed PMID: 3325105.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Military combat, posttraumatic stress disorder, and criminal behavior in Vietnam veterans. AU - Sparr,L F, AU - Reaves,M E, AU - Atkinson,R M, PY - 1987/1/1/pubmed PY - 1987/1/1/medline PY - 1987/1/1/entrez SP - 141 EP - 62 JF - The Bulletin of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law JO - Bull Am Acad Psychiatry Law VL - 15 IS - 2 N2 - Although data are inconclusive, popular perception has linked military combat, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and criminal behavior. This paper discusses the multifactorial elements of this association that include both conscious and unconscious parameters of psychologic functioning. Testimony on combat-related PTSD has been presented in the courtroom to support veterans' claims of not guilty by reason of insanity (NGRI) and diminished capacity and for consideration during judicial sentencing. Because there is a known connection between the degree of combat involvement and PTSD, verification through collateral sources of the veteran's report of combat experiences is an important component of forensic assessment. The DSM-III-defined diagnosis of PTSD and the presence of a dissociative state have particular relevance in NGRI determinations. In other aspects of the judicial process demonstration of the absolute presence or absence of PTSD is often irrelevant and should be replaced by efforts to establish plausible links between provable combat experiences and the circumstances of the crime. SN - 0091-634X UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/3325105/Military_combat_posttraumatic_stress_disorder_and_criminal_behavior_in_Vietnam_veterans_ DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -