title: Prevalence of depressive and alcohol abuse symptoms among women VA outpatients who report experiencing sexual assault while in the military.
abstract: Among a national sample of 3,632 women VA outpatients, we determined self-reported prevalence of sexual assault experienced during military service and compared screening prevalence for current symptoms of depression and alcohol abuse between those who did and did not report this history. Data were obtained by mailed questionnaire. Military-related sexual assault was reported by 23%. Screening prevalence for symptoms of current depression was 3 times higher and for current alcohol abuse was 2 times higher among those who reported experiencing military-related sexual assault. Recent mental health treatment was reported by 50% of those who reported experiencing sexual assault during military service and screened positive for symptoms of depression, and by 40% of those who screened positive for symptoms of alcohol abuse.
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Quality Outcomes, and Economic Research, Bedford VA Medical Center, Massachusetts 01730, USA. hankinc@icon.palo-alto.med.va.gov
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Hankin
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Skinner
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Frayne
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Tripp
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000600:supply & distribution; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel; D015995:Prevalence; D011902:Rape / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*