User:Atcovi/Psychopathology/Paper2

Objective in a Gist: Purpose was to look at incidents of sexual assault in female veterans and the relationship to PTSD and mental health care utilization, pre and post 9/11. 325 female vets were identified for inclusion, 40% reported sexual assault and majority of them met diagnosis of PTSD. 2583 veterans were considered through online/in-person surveys.

Highlights the issue of sexual assault in the military and how it's gone up by 88% from 2007-2013. Few of them are reported out of fear of reprecussions. Because of the increase in assault and lack of adequate provisions to deal with it (mainly because a lack of reports), it is important for "care systems" to address the issue sufficiently.

Sexual Trauma in the Military and PTSD

• Women who enlist have higher chances of having childhood trauma vs. women that did not enlist.
• Women have harder time with PTSD from sexual trauma due to military culture ("shut up so you can focus on the task!").
• Wide-range of physical/psychological effects from PTSD.

Health Care Utilization

• Health cares are used for sexual assault victims, but not very well known for military populations.
• Female vets who experience sexual assault in the military are less likely to use health care services + lower cost of health care vs. civilian sexual assault, even though PTSD is higher in female vets. Though MST-related care has increased, now present in 92% of VA health centers.
• Issues still remain: females may feel that MST services are not adequate in a male dominated society (military), fear of focus on medication vs. focus on actually dealing with the trauma, stigma, no education, and lack of support in a male dominated culture.