My uncle (my mother's brother) used to have severe manic episodes which seem to have originated with his combat experience in Italy during WWII. He said he was almost killed one night by his own men when he awoke in a screaming rage while they were dug in in close proximity to an enemy position, giving away their position to the Germans.

After the war, he would wake up in the middle of the night and attack his wife, once sending her to the hospital. One time, while he and my mother were on a long automobile trip, he awoke from a deep sleep in the back seat and attacked her while she was driving, almost causing an accident.

You would never know this by his normal behavior. He was a good father and husband, a nationally-recognized jazz musician, a businessman, entrepreneur and sportsman (deep sea fishing) and a licensed pilot. He was good natured, had no vices and got along with everyone. Everybody liked him.

I think its a good thing we have a better understanding of this now than we did after previous conflicts. I don't believe its more common now, I just think we're talking about it more freely.