title: Sexual assault during the time of Gulf War I: a cross-sectional survey of U.S. service men who later applied for Department of Veterans Affairs PTSD disability benefits.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the cumulative incidence of sexual assault during the time of Gulf War I among male Gulf War I Veterans who later applied for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) post-traumatic stress disorder disability benefits and to identify potential risk and protective factors for sexual assault within the population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Mailed, national, cross-sectional survey supplemented with VA administrative and clinical data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 2,415 Veterans sampled, 1,700 (70%) responded. After adjusting for nonignorable missing data, the cumulative incidence of sexual assault during Gulf War I in this population ranged from 18% [95% confidence intervals (CI): 5.0%-51.9%] to 21% (95% CI: 20.0-22.0). Deployment was not associated with sexual assault [Odds Ratio (OR), 0.96; 95% CI: 0.75-1.23], but combat exposure was (OR, 1.80; 95% CI: 1.52-2.10). Other correlates of sexual assault within the population included working in a unit with greater tolerance of sexual harassment (OR, 1.80; 95% CI: 1.52-2.10) and being exposed to more sexual identity challenges (OR, 1.76; 95% CI: 1.55-2.00).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 9-month cumulative incidence of sexual assault in this particular population exceeded the lifetime cumulative incidence of sexual assault in U.S. civilian women. Although Persian Gulf deployment was not associated with sexual assault in this population, combat exposure was.
authors.affiliation: Center for Chronic Disease Outcomes Research, VA Health Services Research and Development (HSR&D) Service Center of Excellence, Minneapolis VA Health Care System, One Veterans Drive, Minneapolis, MN 55417.
authors.forename: Maureen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Murdoch
authors.affiliation: Center for Chronic Disease Outcomes Research, VA Health Services Research and Development (HSR&D) Service Center of Excellence, Minneapolis VA Health Care System, One Veterans Drive, Minneapolis, MN 55417.
authors.forename: Melissa A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Polusny
authors.affiliation: National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, 150 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02130.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Street
authors.affiliation: Center for Chronic Disease Outcomes Research, VA Health Services Research and Development (HSR&D) Service Center of Excellence, Minneapolis VA Health Care System, One Veterans Drive, Minneapolis, MN 55417.
authors.forename: Siamak
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Noorbaloochi
authors.affiliation: Center for Chronic Disease Outcomes Research, VA Health Services Research and Development (HSR&D) Service Center of Excellence, Minneapolis VA Health Care System, One Veterans Drive, Minneapolis, MN 55417.
authors.forename: Alisha B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.affiliation: Center for Chronic Disease Outcomes Research, VA Health Services Research and Development (HSR&D) Service Center of Excellence, Minneapolis VA Health Care System, One Veterans Drive, Minneapolis, MN 55417.
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bangerter
authors.affiliation: Center for Chronic Disease Outcomes Research, VA Health Services Research and Development (HSR&D) Service Center of Excellence, Minneapolis VA Health Care System, One Veterans Drive, Minneapolis, MN 55417.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grill
authors.affiliation: Departments of Psychiatry and Psychology, Minneapolis VA Health Care System, One Veterans Drive, Minneapolis, MN 55417.
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Voller
mesh_terms: D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D047830:Gulf War; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011902:Rape / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014728:Veterans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data