title: Military sexual assault and homeless women veterans: clinical correlates and treatment preferences.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Both homeless women and women who have experienced military sexual assault (MSA) are at high risk of serious psychological sequelae. However, little is known about the combined impact of MSA and current homelessness on psychological distress, or about distinctive treatment preferences among homeless female veterans affected by MSA.
  
  
  METHODS
  This observational study compared clinical symptoms, pre-military experiences, and treatment preferences among 509 female veterans with and without MSA who enrolled in 11 VA Homeless Women Veterans Programs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over one third of participants (41.1%) reported MSA. In multivariate analyses, homeless female veterans who reported MSA endorsed greater severity of PTSD and other psychiatric symptoms. Those who had experienced MSA were more likely to report interest in treatment, and treatment focused on safety was reported as especially attractive.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among homeless female veterans, MSA is associated with greater mental health symptoms and greater interest in safety-focused treatment. Services targeting the needs of homeless MSA survivors should be encouraged.
authors.affiliation: VA New England Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, West Haven, Connecticut; Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut. Electronic address: suzanne.decker@yale.edu.
authors.forename: Suzanne E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Decker
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Rosenheck
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Rani
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hoff
authors.forename: Ilan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Harpaz-Rotem
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D057240:Patient Preference; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*