Military Sexual Trauma During Deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan: Prevalence, Readjustment, and Gender Differences

2012 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 487-499 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lori S. Katz ◽  
Geta Cojucar ◽  
Sayeh Beheshti ◽  
Erin Nakamura ◽  
Michelle Murray
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Sexual Trauma ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Military Sexual Trauma ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
And Gender

This study examines military sexual trauma (MST) in men and women deployed in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. A diverse sample of 470 (408 men and 62 women) completed anonymous self-report questionnaires. Seventy-seven reported MST: 51 (12.5%) men and 26 (42%) women. MST was significantly related to symptoms and readjustment and most strongly with intimacy problems. Of those with MST, 73% also reported exposure to war-related stressors. Gender differences revealed that women reported a higher prevalence of MST, but men were more likely to endorse MST with multiple war-related stressors. However, no gender differences were found on reports of symptoms, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or readjustment. Implications of these results are discussed.

Intimate Partner Violence Predicts Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Severity Independent of Early Life and Deployment-Related Trauma in Deployed Men and Women Veterans

2020 ◽  
pp. 088626052093851
Author(s):  
Meghan E. Pierce ◽  
Catherine Fortier ◽  
Jennifer R. Fonda ◽  
William Milberg ◽  
Regina McGlinchey
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Early Life ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Men And Women ◽  
Ptsd Severity

Intimate partner violence (IPV) refers to emotional, physical, and/or sexual abuse perpetrated by a current or former partner. IPV affects both genders, though little is known about its effects on men as victims. The aims of this study were to determine if IPV is a factor contributing to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) severity independently of deployment-related trauma, and to determine if there are gender differences in these associations. Participants were 46 female and 471 male post-9/11 veterans. Four sequential regressions were employed to examine the independent contribution of IPV among multiple trauma types on PTSD severity in men and women at two epochs, post-deployment (participants were anchored to deployment-related PTSD symptoms) and current (within the past month). Models were significant for both epochs in men ( ps < .001) but not in women ( ps > .230). In men, IPV independently predicted PTSD severity in both epochs (β > .093). However, in women, early life trauma (β = .284), but not IPV was a significant and independent predictor for current PTSD. Thus, there are distinct gender differences in how trauma type contributes to PTSD symptom severity. Although the statistical models were not significant in women, we observed similar patterns of results as in men and, in some cases, the β was actually higher in women than in men, suggesting a lack of power in our analyses. More research is clearly needed to follow-up these results; however, our findings indicate that IPV is a contributing factor to PTSD severity in veterans.

Patterns and temporal precedence of symptom change during cognitive processing therapy for military sexual trauma-related posttraumatic stress disorder

2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (5) ◽  
pp. 541-547
Author(s):  
Nicholas Holder ◽  
Ryan Holliday ◽  
Jessica Wiblin ◽  
Alina Surís
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Cognitive Processing ◽  
Sexual Trauma ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Ptsd Symptom ◽  
Cognitive Processing Therapy ◽  
Military Sexual Trauma ◽  
Ptsd Symptoms ◽  
Symptom Criteria

AbstractBackground:Cognitive processing therapy (CPT) is an effective treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including for veterans with military sexual trauma (MST)-related PTSD. Most CPT research to date has focused on pre- to post-treatment change in total PTSD symptoms; however, PTSD symptom criteria may not change equivalently over the course of treatment. For example, changes in re-experiencing symptoms have been shown to precede changes in other PTSD criteria during other PTSD treatments (i.e. virtual reality exposure therapy, venlafaxine ER). An improved understanding of the mechanism of change in PTSD symptoms during CPT may assist in optimizing treatment.Aims:The purpose of this study was to identify the pattern and temporal precedence of change in PTSD symptom criteria during and after CPT using cross-lagged panel analyses.Method:Data from veterans (n = 32) enrolled in a randomized clinical trial investigating the effectiveness of CPT for MST-related PTSD were utilized for this secondary analysis. Using hierarchical linear modelling, each symptom criterion was entered as a predictor of subsequent change in the other PTSD symptom criteria.Results:All symptom criteria followed a logarithmic pattern of change. Hyperarousal symptoms were found to both predict and temporally precede change in avoidance symptoms, but not re-experiencing symptoms. Re-experiencing and avoidance symptoms did not predict change in other PTSD symptom criteria.Conclusions:These findings provide initial support that targeting and reducing hyperarousal symptoms may be a key component of PTSD intervention with CPT. Additional research is needed to identify factors that predict change in PTSD-related re-experiencing symptoms.

Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Related to Military Sexual Trauma

2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (10) ◽  
pp. 432-436
Author(s):  
Lindsey Matt ◽  
Kaitlin Thompson ◽  
Ashton M. Lofgreen ◽  
Rebecca Van Horn
Keyword(s):  
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder ◽  
Posttraumatic Stress ◽  
Sexual Trauma ◽  
Stress Disorder ◽  
Military Sexual Trauma
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