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.
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Biography
Shira Maguen is a Research Psychologist at the San Francisco VA Medical Center and Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco. She specializes in PTSD research, with an interest in women veterans' mental health.
Biography
Beth Cohen is a Staff Physician at the San Francisco VA Medical Center and Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. Her research focuses on the effects of PTSD on physical health.
Biography
Li Ren was a Data Analyst at the San Francisco VA Medical Center with an expertise in quantitative methods and analysis. She is now employed at Stanford University.
Biography
Jeane Bosch is a Research Associate at the San Franisco VA Medical Center. Her research interests include PTSD, sexual assault, and multicultural issues in mental health.
Biography
Rachel Kimerling is a Clinical Psychologist at the National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Dissemination and Training Division and an Investigator at the Center for Health Care Evaluation, VA Palo Alto Health Care System. She specializes in sexual trauma research.
Biography
Karen Seal is an Associate Professor of Medicine and Psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco. As Co-Director of the Iraq/Afghanistan Veteran Integrated Care Clinic at the San Francisco VA Medical Center, she investigates primary care-mental health integration.
Article Info
Publication History
Published online: September 12, 2011
Accepted:
July 25,
2011
Received in revised form:
June 15,
2011
Received:
January 11,
2011
Footnotes
Supported by Department of Defense Concept Award Grant (Maguen), VA Health Sciences Research and Development (HSR&D) Career Development Award (Maguen), and National Institutes of Health grant K23 HL 094765-01 (Cohen).
Identification
Copyright
Published by Elsevier Inc.
