Commentary on "PTSD and firearm ownership, access, and storage practices: A systematic review"

Comments on an article by Ian H. Stanley et al. (see record 2020-46678-001). In their review paper, Stanley et al. examine posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, particularly hypervigilance and/or cognitions about threat, as possible causes for these practices. As noted by Stanley et al., a major limitation of this systematic review was a lack of clarity regarding the relationship between firearm ownership/storage practices and PTSD. In their review, Stanley et al. note the importance of understanding temporality in the relationship between PTSD and firearm ownership. This systematic review paper is an important early examination into the relationship between PTSD and firearms. Although no definitive conclusions can be drawn based on the available literature, Stanley et al. provide relevant hypotheses about how PTSD symptoms may influence firearm ownership and/or safe storage practices and offer helpful guidance for researchers interested in elucidating these relationships further. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)