https://aub.ie/Military-REACH-ChiuEtAl2022

Chiu, C., Gnall, K., Pless Kaiser, A., Taft, C. T., Franz, M. R., Lee, L. O., & Vasterling, J. J. (2022). Neurocognitive performance predicts future partner violence among U.S. Iraq- and Afghanistan-deployed Army soldiers and veterans. Psychology of Violence, 12(3), 160-169. https://doi.org/10.1037/vio0000408

This study examined whether postdeployment neurocognitive performance (i.e., working memory, verbal-auditory learning and memory, and verbal ability) predicted Soldiers’ perpetration of psychological and physical intimate partner violence (IPV) 5 to 13 years later when accounting for health indicators (i.e., traumatic brain injury [TBI] lifetime history, problematic alcohol use, posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD], and depression). Soldiers (i.e., Army active-duty, National Guard/Reserve, or Veteran) who had experienced at least 1 deployment and their cohabitating partner (N = 217 couples) completed measures at two time points (i.e., postdeployment and long-term follow-up). In general, those with poorer working memory performance averaged more frequent psychological IPV perpetration. Additionally, problematic alcohol use and TBI lifetime history were related to increased frequency of psychological IPV perpetration, while only problematic alcohol use was related to increased physical IPV perpetration.

https://doi.org/10.1037/vio0000408

Physical health
Mental health
Couples
Veterans
Deployment
Substance use
Trauma

Army

Veteran
Active Duty
Guard
Reserve

Veteran
Spouse of service member or veteran
Active duty service member

Adulthood (18 yrs & older)
Young adulthood (18 - 29 yrs)
Thirties (30 - 39 yrs)
Middle age (40 - 64 yrs)

Quantitative Study
Longitudinal Study

Chiu, Christopher, Gnall, Katherine, Pless Kaiser, Anica, Taft, Casey T., Franz, Molly R., Lee, Lewina O., Vasterling, Jennifer J.

Objective: Intimate partner violence (IPV) constitutes a major U.S. national health concern and disproportionately affects military families. Prior research, which has been conducted primarily in civilian populations, suggests that relative neurocognitive weaknesses may increase risk for IPV. This prospective study examined the associations between postdeployment neurocognitive performance and subsequent IPV (5–13 years later) among warzone veterans in the context of psychological health and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Method: Participants were 217 warzone veterans from a nationally dispersed sample of service members and veterans who had previously deployed to the Iraq war zone and their intimate partners. Warzone veterans had previously completed performance-based neurocognitive assessments at a postdeployment assessment. An average of 8 years later, participants completed structured psychiatric interviews and psychometric surveys assessing TBI history, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, alcohol use, and IPV perpetration. Results: Regression analyses revealed that relatively greater psychopathology and history of TBI were significantly associated with more frequent warzone veteran IPV psychological perpetration. Furthermore, relatively poorer postdeployment neurocognitive performance predicted higher subsequent psychological and physical IPV perpetration, adjusting for demographics, psychological health, and TBI. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the importance of identifying both psychological/behavioral and neurocognitive correlates of IPV among warzone veterans. An integrative understanding of IPV risk can help inform both IPV prevention and treatment efforts for warzone veterans. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

American Psychological Association

Article
REACH Publication

National Center for PTSD and Psychology Service, VA Boston Healthcare System, CC
National Center for PTSD and Psychology Service, VA Boston Healthcare System, APK
National Center for PTSD and Psychology Service, VA Boston Healthcare System, CTT
National Center for PTSD and Psychology Service, VA Boston Healthcare System, MRF
National Center for PTSD and Psychology Service, VA Boston Healthcare System, LOL
National Center for PTSD and Psychology Service, VA Boston Healthcare System, JJV
Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Boston, CC
Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, KG
Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, APK
Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, CTT
Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, MRF
Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, LOL
Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, JJV
Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, MRF