title: Gender Differences in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Help Seeking in the U.S. Army.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Inconsistent findings between studies of gender differences in mental health outcomes in military samples have left open questions of differential prevalence in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among all United States Army soldiers and in differential psychosocial and comorbid risk and protective factor profiles and their association with receipt of treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study assesses the prevalence and risk factors of screening positive for PTSD for men and women based on two large, population-based Army samples obtained as part of the 2005 and 2008 U.S. Department of Defense Surveys of Health Related Behaviors among Active Duty Military Personnel.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study showed that overall rates of PTSD, as measured by several cutoffs of the PTSD Checklist, are similar between active duty men and women, with rates increasing in both men and women between the two study time points. Depression and problem alcohol use were strongly associated with a positive PTSD screen in both genders, and combat exposure was significantly associated with a positive PTSD screen in men. Overall, active duty men and women who met criteria for PTSD were equally likely to receive mental health counseling or treatment, though gender differences in treatment receipt varied by age, race, social support (presence of spouse at duty station), history of sexual abuse, illness, depression, alcohol use, and combat exposure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study demonstrates that the prevalence of PTSD as well as the overall utilization of mental health services is similar for active duty men compared with women. However, there are significant gender differences in predictors of positive PTSD screens and receipt of PTSD treatment.
authors.affiliation: 1 RTI International , Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Laurel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hourani
authors.affiliation: 1 RTI International , Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: 1 RTI International , Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Bray
authors.affiliation: 2 Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience Research, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research , Silver Spring, Maryland.
authors.forename: Joshua E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Wilk
authors.affiliation: 2 Center for Military Psychiatry and Neuroscience Research, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research , Silver Spring, Maryland.
authors.forename: Charles W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Hoge
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000523:psychology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult