Abstract
Background
Given recent, rapid growth in the field of women veterans' mental health, the goal
of this review was to update the status of women veterans' mental health research
and to identify current themes in this literature. The scope of this review included
women veterans' unique mental health needs, as well as gender differences in veterans'
mental health needs.
Methods
Database searches were conducted for relevant articles published between January 2008
and July 2011. Searches were supplemented with bibliographic reviews and consultation
with subject matter experts.
Findings
The database search yielded 375 titles; 32 met inclusion/exclusion criteria. The women
veterans' mental health literature crosses over several domains, including prevalence,
risk factors, health care utilization, treatment preferences, and access barriers.
Studies were generally cross-sectional, descriptive, mixed-gender, and examined Department
of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care users from all service eras. Results indicate
higher rates of specific disorders (e.g., depression) and comorbidities, with differing
risk factors and associated medical and functional impairment for female compared
with male veterans. Although satisfaction with VA health care is generally high, unique
barriers to care and indices of treatment satisfaction exist for women.
Conclusions
There is a breadth of descriptive knowledge in many content areas of women veterans'
mental health; however, the research base examining interventional and longitudinal
designs is less developed. Understudied content areas and targets for future research
and development include certain psychiatric disorders (e.g., schizophrenia), the effects
of deployment on woman veterans' families, and strategies to address treatment access,
attrition, and provision of gender-sensitive care.
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Biography
Jennifer J. Runnals, PhD, works for the Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research Educational and Clinical Center, Durham, North Carolina, and the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina. Her research interests include trauma, chronic pain, and women's mental health.
Biography
Natara Garovoy, PhD, MPH, works in the Women's Counseling Center, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California, and the Mental Health Services, Department of Veteran Affairs, Washington, DC. Her research interests include stress and trauma, gender and women's mental health, and health promotion.
Biography
Susan J. McCutcheon, EdD, works for the Office of Mental Health Services in the Department of Veteran Affairs, Washington, DC. Her research interests include women's mental health, military sexual trauma, impact of deployment, and reintegration of families.
Biography
Allison T. Robbins, BA, works in the Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research Educational and Clinical Center, Durham, North Carolina. Her research interests include trauma, complex posttraumatic stress disorder, chronic health concerns, and resiliency in families.
Biography
Monica C. Mann-Wrobel, PhD, works at the Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research Educational and Clinical Center, Durham, North Carolina, and the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina. Her research interests include complex posttraumatic stress disorder, serious mental illness, third-wave behavioral interventions, couples, and families.
Biography
Alyssa Elliott, BA, works for the Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research Educational and Clinical Center, Durham, North Carolina. Her research interests include trauma, interpersonal violence, and resiliency in military families.
Biography
Jennifer L. Strauss, PhD, works for the Office of Mental Health Services, Department of Veteran Affairs, Washington, DC, and the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina. Her research interests include women's mental health, trauma, clinical trials, and integrative medicine.
Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
June 30,
2014
Received in revised form:
June 13,
2014
Received:
February 27,
2014
Footnotes
There are no financial conflicts of interest to report. Funding for preparation of the manuscript was provided, in part, by the VISN 6 MIRECC at the DVAMC. The views expressed in this manuscript are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Identification
Copyright
Published by Elsevier Inc.
