Клинико-психопатологические предпосылки криминальной агрессии у ветеранов локальных войн

Numerous local armed conflicts in post-Soviet space have led to a significant rise of criminal violence in veterans. This article presents the analysis of clinical-dynamic characteristics of combat-related PTSD, as well as individual and personality features and prerequisites of criminal aggression and mental disturbances observed at the moment of offence in 174 veterans of local wars. The probability of heteroaggressive behavior seems to increase in accordance with duration of exposure and severity of stress factors in the combat situation. It was especially high in first three years after the impact of the combat stress factors. Besides various PTSD symptoms mentioned in ICD-10 and DSM-IV, these veterans have acquired during the war certain similar personality features in emotional, cognitive and motivational / value spheres. The more pronounced were these changes, the more prominent were their interpersonal difficulties, and more probable was violence. A frequent emotional prerequisite of aggression was proneness to emotional excitement in an interpersonal conflict. "Flashbacks" about war situations seemed to release the combat skills of the veteran under the influence of strong emotion. Their value system was black and white: either friend or enemy, no gray zone. Therefore, their opinions were rigid, not realistic. They committed offences against person in emotional conditions triggered by stress, when a traumatic situation was associated with an immediate life threat at war or an emotionally overwhelming opposition. Detailed analysis of personality characteristics of the offender, duration of exposure to combat stress and its severity, as well as subsequent social stress factors and their psychological impact, and circumstances of offence itself is essential for correct judgement in the course of forensic psychiatric evaluation.