title: Military-related sexual trauma among Veterans Health Administration patients returning from Afghanistan and Iraq.
abstract: We examined military-related sexual trauma among deployed Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans. Of 125 729 veterans who received Veterans Health Administration primary care or mental health services, 15.1% of the women and 0.7% of the men reported military sexual trauma when screened. Military sexual trauma was associated with increased odds of a mental disorder diagnosis, including posttraumatic stress disorder, other anxiety disorders, depression, and substance use disorders. Sexual trauma is an important postdeployment mental health issue in this population.
authors.affiliation: National Center for PTSD, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA. rachel.kimerling@va.gov
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kimerling
authors.forename: Amy E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Street
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pavao
authors.forename: Mark W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Ruth C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Cronkite
authors.forename: Tyson H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Holmes
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Frayne
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014728:Veterans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014729:Veterans Disability Claims