Examining the Association between Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Intimate Partner Violence Perpetration

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between lifetime DSM-IV posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration in a representative sample of self-identified heterosexual adult men in the U.S. Analysis was conducted using data from two waves of the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC) among 11,625 heterosexual men to test the hypothesis that heterosexual men in the general population with lifetime PTSD were more likely to perpetrate IPV than their non-PTSD counterparts. In adjusted models, heterosexual men who reported lifetime PTSD showed significantly higher risk of IPV perpetration (OR = 2.36, 95 % CI = 1.56–3.57, p < 0.001), compared to men without PTSD. Results call for increased attention to assessment and treatment of mental health problems and trauma among male perpetrators of IPV, as a means to prevent the reoccurrence of violence.