title: Gender differences in military sexual trauma and mental health diagnoses among Iraq and Afghanistan veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We examined correlates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), including military sexual trauma (MST), in Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. We also compared mental health comorbidities by gender among veterans with PTSD, with and without MST.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective data analyses were conducted using Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) administrative data from 213,803 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans and the subset diagnosed with PTSD from April 1, 2002, to October 1, 2008. We used descriptive statistics and multivariate logistic regression compared by gender to investigate independent correlates and mental health comorbidities associated with PTSD, with and without MST.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among women with PTSD, 31% screened positive for MST; 1% of men with PTSD screened positive for MST. Among those with PTSD, veterans with MST had more comorbid mental health diagnoses than those without MST. Women with PTSD and MST were more likely to receive comorbid depression, anxiety, and eating disorder diagnoses, and men were more likely to receive comorbid substance use disorder diagnoses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MST is associated with an increased prevalence of mental health disorders comorbid with PTSD. Better understanding comorbidity patterns will allow for targeted evaluation and treatment of returning veterans with MST.
authors: San Francisco VA Medical Center, San Francisco, CA 94121, USA. Shira.Maguen@va.gov
authors: Shira
authors: S
authors: Maguen
authors: Beth
authors: B
authors: Cohen
authors: Li
authors: L
authors: Ren
authors: Jeane
authors: J
authors: Bosch
authors: Rachel
authors: R
authors: Kimerling
authors: Karen
authors: K
authors: Seal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult