UCSF

Based on focus group and individual interviews with 26 combat veterans, thisqualitative thematic analysis examines the psychosocial and interpersonalconsequences of killing in war. It describes the consequences that veteransidentify as most relevant in their lives, including postwar changes in emotions,cognitions, relationships, and identity. Furthermore, it illustrates the linkedpsychological and social dimensions of those consequences—namely, howthe impact of killing in war is rooted in the unique perspectives, actions, andexperiences of individual veterans, as well as the social worlds they confrontupon returning from war. We found that, for many veterans, killing provokesa moral conflict with a lasting impact on their sense of self, spirituality, andrelationships with others. In working with combat veterans, mental healthprofessionals should be sensitive to the complexities of discussing killing andattuned to the psychosocial challenges veterans may face after taking a lifein war.