title: Combat exposure, posttraumatic stress symptoms and risk-taking behavior in veterans of the Second Lebanon War.
abstract: Prior research has revealed heightened risk-taking behavior among veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study examined whether the risktaking behavior is a direct outcome of the traumatic exposure or whether this relationship is mediated by posttraumatic stress symptoms. The sample was comprised of 180 traumatized Israeli reserve soldiers, who sought treatment in the wake of the Second Lebanon War. Combat exposure was indirectly associated with risk-taking behavior primarily through its relationship with posttraumatic stress symptoms. Results of the multivariate analyses depict the implication of posttraumatic stress symptoms in risk taking behavior, and the role of self-medication and of aggression in traumatized veterans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health, Israel Defense Forces Medical Corps, Ramat Gan, Israel.
authors.forename: Vlad
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Svetlicky
authors.forename: Zahava
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Solomon
authors.forename: Rami
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Benbenishty
authors.forename: Ofir
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Levi
authors.forename: Gadi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lubin
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000374:Aggression; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D003617:Dangerous Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D007861:Lebanon; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012309:Risk-Taking; D057566:Self Report; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*; D014857:Warfare