Atrocities exposure in Vietnam combat veterans with chronic posttraumatic stress disorder: Relationship to combat exposure, symptom severity, guilt, and interpersonal violence

Vietnam combat veterans (N = 151) with chronic posttraumatic stress disorde r (PTSD) completed measures of atrocities exposure, combat exposure, PTSD s ymptom severity guilt and interpersonal violence. PTSD symptom severity gui lt and interpersonal violence rates were similar to previously reported stu dies that examined treatment seeking combat veterans with PTSD. Controlling for combat exposure, endorsement of atrocities exposure was related to PTS D symptom severity, PTSD B (reexperiencing) symptoms, Global Guilt, Guilt C ognitions, and cognitive subscales of Hindsight-Bias/Responsibility and Wro ngdoing. These results are discussed in the context of previous research co nducted regarding atrocities exposure and PTSD.