Published Aug 12, 2026, 12:57 PM EDT
Researchers analyzed more than 3.6 million clinical notes in their study, attempting to understand mood swings among veterans.
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Published Aug 12, 2026, 12:57 PM EDT
A new study has found that veterans exposed to repeated military blasts are more likely to develop anger, aggression and violence than those who are not. Using a large language model, researchers from the VA Salt Lake City Health Care System and the University of Utah analyzed more than 3.6 million clinical notes to find incidents of these extreme moods in people in the military. The study, "When the Fuse Is Lit: Association of Military Occupational Blast Exposure With Anger, Aggression, and Violence," was published in Military Medicine. By comparing notes from 5,000 veterans who served in roles with a high risk of repeated blast exposure, and notes from 5,000 veterans from lower-risk occupations, they found that those in the first group had higher rates of anger, aggression and violence. Overall, 17.2% of the veterans in the high-risk occupations exhibited these behaviors, compared with 12% of people in the low-risk group.
