title: Firearm Ownership Among Military Veterans With PTSD: A Profile of Demographic and Psychosocial Correlates.
abstract: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a condition that disproportionately affects military veterans, is associated with heightened rates of aggression and suicide. Although experience with firearms is common among this population, virtually nothing is known regarding who is more likely to own a firearm and whether firearm ownership is differentially associated with psychological and behavioral risk factors among veterans with PTSD. Of 465 veterans (79% male) entering PTSD treatment, 28% owned a firearm (median number of firearms among owners = 3, range = 1-40). Firearm owners reported higher income were less likely to be unemployed, and were more likely to be male, Caucasian, married, and living in permanent housing. Ownership was associated with higher combat exposure and driving aggression, yet lower rates of childhood and military sexual trauma, suicidal ideation, and incarceration. Ownership was not associated with previous suicide attempt, arrest history, number of traumas experienced, PTSD symptoms, or depression. Together, among a sample of treatment-seeking military veterans with PTSD, those who owned a firearm appeared to demonstrate greater stability across a number of domains of functioning. Importantly though, routine firearm safety discussions (e.g., accessibility restrictions; violence risk assessments) and bolstering of anger management skills remain critical when working with this high-risk population.
authors.affiliation: National Center for PTSD, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, 795 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025.
authors.forename: Adrienne J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Heinz
authors.affiliation: National Center for PTSD, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, 795 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025.
authors.forename: Nicole L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.affiliation: Palo Alto University, 1791 Arastradero Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304.
authors.forename: Lori
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Holleran
authors.affiliation: VA Palo Alto Health Care System, 3801 Miranda Avenue, Menlo Park, CA 94304.
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.affiliation: National Center for PTSD, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, 795 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA 94025.
authors.forename: Marcel O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Bonn-Miller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003710:Demography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005389:Firearms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health / Q000592:standards; D008875:Middle Aged; D010067:Ownership / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology