When combat prevents PTSD symptoms--results from a survey with former child soldiers in Northern Uganda.

BMC Psychiatry
Roland WeierstallThomas Elbert

Abstract

Human beings from time immemorial have eradicated neighbouring tribes, languages, religions, and cultures. In war and crisis, the cumulative exposure to traumatic stress constitutes a predictor of the development of post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). However, homicide has evolved as a profitable strategy in man, leading to greater reproductive success. Thus, an evolutionary advantage of perpetrating violence would be eliminated if the exposure to aggressive acts would traumatize the perpetrator. We argue that perpetrating violence could actually 'immunize' a person against adverse effects of traumatic stressors, significantly reducing the risk of developing PTSD. We surveyed 42 former child soldiers in Northern Uganda that have all been abducted by the Lord Resistance Army (LRA) as well as 41 non-abducted controls. Linear regression analyses revealed a dose-response effect between the exposure to traumatic events and the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale (PDS) sum score. However, the vulnerability to develop trauma related symptoms was reduced in those with higher scores on the Appetitive Aggression Scale (AAS). This effect was more pronounced in the formerly abducted group. We conclude that attraction to aggression when being...Continue Reading

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Citations

Aug 30, 2011·Conflict and Health·Anett Pfeiffer, Thomas Elbert
Jan 1, 2011·European Journal of Psychotraumatology·Roland Weierstall, Thomas Elbert
Jan 15, 2014·Child Abuse & Neglect·Anselm Crombach, Thomas Elbert
Jan 19, 2016·Frontiers in Psychology·Danie Meyer-ParlapanisAnselm Crombach
Mar 17, 2012·International Journal of Law and Psychiatry·Tobias HeckerMaggie Schauer
Nov 4, 2015·Frontiers in Psychiatry·Anke Köbach, Thomas Elbert
Jul 16, 2015·Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health : CBMH·Hannah ChingStuart Thomas
Jul 15, 2015·Frontiers in Psychiatry·Tobias HeckerThomas Elbert
Dec 30, 2014·Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience·James K MoranThomas Elbert
May 15, 2013·European Journal of Psychotraumatology·Tobias HeckerThomas Elbert
Nov 14, 2013·European Journal of Psychotraumatology·Katharin HermenauThomas Elbert
Dec 9, 2020·Psychiatry Research·Khethelo R XuluSian M J Hemmings

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