Gender Differences in Trauma Types and Themes in Veterans with Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

ABSTRACT

Background: This study aimed to determine whether there were gender differences in trauma types and cognitive-emotional themes among veterans with deployment-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Methods: Case notes or writing excerpts from two pilot studies were reviewed to determine types of traumas and emerging themes, with 20 women and 31 men comprising the sample. Results: Most women developed PTSD after sexual assault, with reactions emphasizing mistrust, betrayal, and anger. Men experienced more combat, with reactions including survivor guilt, moral injury, and horror. Conclusions: Both genders developed PTSD, but the causes of and reactions to their traumas differed. Emerging themes can be useful treatment foci.

KEYWORDS:

• Cognitive themes
• emotional themes
• gender
• trauma types
• trauma

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Janice L. Krupnick

Janice L. Krupnick is a professor of psychiatry at Georgetown University School of Medicine. She was the principal investigator of both of the pilot studies described in this article.