Posttraumatic Sequelae Associated with Military Sexual Trauma in Female Veterans Enrolled in VA Outpatient Mental Health Clinics

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between military sexual assault (MSA) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other symptoms associated with trauma, referred to as disorders of extreme stress not otherwise specified (DESNOS) or complex PTSD within a Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center outpatient mental health treatment–seeking sample. The present results focus on female Veterans only because of the low rates of endorsement of MSA among male Veterans resulting in a sample too small to use in analyses. Compared with those who did not endorse MSA, those who did reported greater frequency of other potentially traumatic events; PTSD symptoms; and symptoms characteristic of DESNOS, such as difficulties with interpersonal relationships, emotion regulation, dissociation, somatization, and self-perception. When childhood and other adulthood interpersonal trauma were both taken into account, MSA continued to contribute unique variance in predicting PTSD and DESNOS symptoms. VA patients reporting MSA may represent notably heterogeneous groups that include more complex posttraumatic reactions. Treatment interventions focused on complex PTSD may be warranted for a subset of female veterans who endorse MSA.

Keywords:

• military sexual trauma
• sexual assault
• posttraumatic stress disorder
• complex posttraumatic stress disorder
• disorders of extreme stress not otherwise specified

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the following individuals for conducting study interviews: Mary Jean Mariano, PhD; Lynne Hearle; Scott Michael, PhD; Victoria McKeever, PhD; and Jennifer Reilage, PhD. This material is based upon work supported by a pilot grant from the Epidemiologic Research and Information Center, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Office of Research and Development Cooperative Studies Program, Department of Veterans Affairs.

This material is based upon work supported by a pilot grant from the Epidemiologic Research and Information Center, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Office of Research and Development Cooperative Studies Program, Department of Veterans Affairs.