...to think long term abuse, can cause PTSD

[ElenorRigby]

..... and the person who was originally abused can in turn become violent due PTSD caused by that abuse.

Background:
A have heard a neighbour being badly verbally abused and her pleading with him (her husband) to stop what he was doing on a handful occasions over the last year. She's a quiet sweet girl. I talked to a friend of theirs asking if he was all right with her but the friend looked nonplussed so I backed off.

Recently things have changed.

Its was DP who first heard her aggressively screaming at her husband. I didn't believe it as she's such a quiet type who usually looks downtrodden in her husbands presence.

Then yesterday I heard her for myself screaming manically at him, she sounded like she was going to totally loose it. This time he looked subdued.

I then recalled another example
A friend of mine (much older, now in her 60's) told me how she was beaten by her husband intermittently during their first 20 years of marriage. Then one day her husband was menacing to her, she flipped and struck him on the head leaving him stunned and on the ground she then threatened him and told him if ever went to hit her again she'd kill him.

I know this a sensitive discussion for AIBU but I wanted a wide breadth of opinion.

I was even more intrigued when I found PTSD causing violent behaviour is downplayed and also the American and UK military pressure military mental health workers "refrain from giving a diagnosis of PTSD" in favour of a less serious diagnoses.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: The evil our military refuses to see

Veteran's Administration cover up of PTSD

I do hope your not just trying to pyscho analysis your neighbours without doing anything to help?

Phone the police the next time it gets out of hand and they will help

With regards to your original question, every situation is different, ergo there is no answer.

I was in an abusive relationship, although it took me years to admit it even after I ended it (did not want to acknowledge it I suppose)

But when I nded it I verbally ripped seven bells into the guy as well as physically throwing all his stuff out into in the street and hiring a moving van for the rest of his stuff. The anger and strength I found that day came from somewhere but I'd never say it was PTSD.

Anyway if you think they tables have turned in your neighbours relationship and she is abusing him , inform someone instead of mulling over why or how it happens