TUESDAY, Oct. 28 (HealthDay News) -- Shedding light on the challenges facing women in the military, a new study shows that more than one in seven female Iraq and Afghanistan veterans seeking VA medical care reported experiencing sexual trauma during their service.
Veterans who reported sexual trauma, such as rape and threatening sexual harassment, were three times more likely to be diagnosed with a mental illness such as depression or post-traumatic stress disorder.
"These mental health conditions are getting recognized, diagnosed and treated," said study co-author Joanne Pavao, a researcher with the VA Palo Alto Health Care System's National Center for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, in California.
Pavao and her colleagues analyzed the records of 89,960 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who sought medical care in the VA health-care system between Oct. 1, 2001, and Oct. 1, 2006. They were expected to present their findings Tuesday in San Diego at the American Public Health Association's annual meeting.
A total of 1,849 women -- 14.5 percent -- reported experiencing sexual trauma during their service; 471 men -- 0.6 percent -- said they'd experienced sexual trauma.
A study released in 2007 found that 22 percent of female veterans and 1 percent of male veterans reported sexual trauma in VA health-care surveys conducted in 2003. That study looked at veterans of all types, not just from Afghanistan and Iraq.
The new study found that these men and women were three times more likely to be diagnosed with a mental illness than those who didn't report experiencing sexual trauma.
Among women who reported experiencing sexual trauma, 76 percent were diagnosed with a mental condition, compared to 47 percent of other female veterans. The rates were similar in men.
According to the study, the most common mental health conditions among the Iraq and Afghanistan veterans were depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety disorders, adjustment disorders (which cause stress and other problems during certain situations), and drug addiction or alcoholism. All were more common in men and women who reported sexual trauma; post-traumatic stress disorder was much more common in women than men in that group.
It's not clear where the sexual trauma occurred. "It's sexual trauma that occurred during active military duty," Pavao said. "It could have occurred at any point during the service history of these men and women."
Sexual Trauma Haunts Many Female Vets
http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20081028/hl_hsn/sexualtraumahauntsmanyfemalevets
By: Randy Doting, a HealthDay Reporter
All veterans who seek health care within the VA system are screened for sexual trauma, Pavao said. "When this is detected, they're offered free health care for all conditions that the clinicians determine to be related to military sexual trauma. This is part of the VA's large-scale efforts to treat these conditions in a timely way."
If they get treatment, many women who experienced sexual trauma can recover, said Edna B. Foa, a professor of psychology and psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania who studies sexual violence.
About 20 percent of women who are raped in the general population develop post-traumatic stress disorder, she said. "Even if they don't meet the criteria of the disorder, many of them will have symptoms that will cause them distress, difficulties having sexual relationships, etc....," she said. "Having a sexual trauma is serious."
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
15% of returning female vets experience sexual trauma
Substantial Proportion of Female Veterans Report Military Sexual Trauma; Military Sexual Trauma Is Associated with Higher Rates of Mental Health Problems
Date: Tuesday, October 28, 2008 – 4:45 PM
ABSTRACT: "DescriptionAccording to preliminary research results from the Department of Veterans Affairs presented at the American Public Health Association’s 136th Annual Meeting & Exposition in San Diego, approximately 15 percent of recently returned female veterans utilizing the VA health care system report experiencing sexual trauma during military service."
Newswise — According to preliminary research results from the Department of Veterans Affairs, approximately 15 percent of recently returned female veterans utilizing the VA health care system report experiencing sexual trauma during military service.
The cross-sectional study, presented at the American Public Health Association’s 136th Annual Meeting & Exposition in San Diego, examined health care screening data of over 100,000 veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) who utilized medical care at any Veterans Health Administration facility during a six-year period.
Along with the more than one in seven women, 0.7 percent of males also reported having experienced military sexual trauma (MST). Both males and females reporting MST were more likely to be diagnosed with a mental health condition than patients who did not report MST.
“These data highlight the importance of the VA’s universal screening policy,” said Joanne Pavao, MPH, a Department of Veterans Affairs researcher on the study, “as well as early intervention among veterans who have experienced sexual trauma, to prevent long-term consequences.” VHA policy requires that all male and female veterans are screened for experiences of military sexual trauma and that free treatment for MST-related conditions is provided at all VA health care facilities.
Source: American Public Health Association (APHA)
Date: Tuesday, October 28, 2008 – 4:45 PM
ABSTRACT: "DescriptionAccording to preliminary research results from the Department of Veterans Affairs presented at the American Public Health Association’s 136th Annual Meeting & Exposition in San Diego, approximately 15 percent of recently returned female veterans utilizing the VA health care system report experiencing sexual trauma during military service."
Newswise — According to preliminary research results from the Department of Veterans Affairs, approximately 15 percent of recently returned female veterans utilizing the VA health care system report experiencing sexual trauma during military service.
The cross-sectional study, presented at the American Public Health Association’s 136th Annual Meeting & Exposition in San Diego, examined health care screening data of over 100,000 veterans of Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) who utilized medical care at any Veterans Health Administration facility during a six-year period.
Along with the more than one in seven women, 0.7 percent of males also reported having experienced military sexual trauma (MST). Both males and females reporting MST were more likely to be diagnosed with a mental health condition than patients who did not report MST.
“These data highlight the importance of the VA’s universal screening policy,” said Joanne Pavao, MPH, a Department of Veterans Affairs researcher on the study, “as well as early intervention among veterans who have experienced sexual trauma, to prevent long-term consequences.” VHA policy requires that all male and female veterans are screened for experiences of military sexual trauma and that free treatment for MST-related conditions is provided at all VA health care facilities.
Source: American Public Health Association (APHA)
Female Soldiers Raise Alarm
According to the Associated Press (Hefling, K., Jul 21 2008), "[o]f the women veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan who have walked into a VA facility, 15 percent have screened positive for military sexual trauma, The Associated Press has learned. That means they indicated that while on active duty they were sexually assaulted, raped, or were sexually harassed, receiving repeated unsolicited verbal or physical contact of a sexual nature."
For full article: Female soldiers raise alarm on sexual assaults
For full article: Female soldiers raise alarm on sexual assaults
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
From: http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/543547/?sc=rsmn
AAPB 2008 Fall Workshop — Blast Injuries: TBI, PTSD, and Pain
AAPB is pleased to announce the 2008 Fall Workshop — Blast Injuries: TBI, PTSD, and Pain. Join us November 7 - 8, 2008 in Washington, DC for an intensive 2-day workshop focusing on updated knowledge and skills to serve the OEF/OIF veterans suffering from blast injuries, and related conditions including TBI, PTSD and chronic pain.
Newswise — This workshop is intended to provide the participants with updated knowledge and skills to serve the OEF/OIF veterans suffering from blast injuries, and related conditions including TBI, PTSD and chronic pain. Specifically, topics will include: • a definition of blast trauma, its characteristics, epidemiology, neuro-anatomy and neuropathology. • mechanisms of explosive blast injury. • the co-morbidity of PTSD, pain, and other psychiatric and somatic symptoms. • neurobiology of PTSD and pain. • neuro-imaging of post-TBI depression. • medical impact and implications for rehabilitation (including involvement of family members). • recovery from PTSD and pain following traumatic brain injury. • a panel discussion on cognitive rehabilitation. • an overview of pharmacological interventions. • the psychophysiology of PTSD and implications for biofeedback. • the use of virtual reality in the assessment, treatment and evaluation of PTSD and TBI. • complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) interventions. • special issues for female veterans (military sexual trauma and beyond).
Speakers will include a host of national and internationally known experts in the field of blast injury, PTSD, and pain:
Ibolja Cernak, MD, ME, PhD Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory Ronald G. Riechers, MDCleveland VA Medical Center Lonnie A. Nelson, PhDDefense and Veteran's Brain Injury Center Carmen V. Russoniello, PhD, LRT, LPC, BCIACEast Carolina University Gabriel Tan, PhD, ABPPMichael E. DeBakery VA Medical Center Kathleen Kortte, PhDJohn Hopkins University School of Medicine Una McCann, MD John Hopkins University School of Medicine Vani Rao, MD John Hopkins University School of Medicine James Fauerbach, PhD John Hopkins University School of Medicine Michael Smith, PhD John Hopkins University School of Medicine
More information on additional speakers will be released when available. We look forward to sharing additional details on the wide array of experts speaking at the Fall Workshop.
AAPB 2008 Fall Workshop — Blast Injuries: TBI, PTSD, and Pain
AAPB is pleased to announce the 2008 Fall Workshop — Blast Injuries: TBI, PTSD, and Pain. Join us November 7 - 8, 2008 in Washington, DC for an intensive 2-day workshop focusing on updated knowledge and skills to serve the OEF/OIF veterans suffering from blast injuries, and related conditions including TBI, PTSD and chronic pain.
Newswise — This workshop is intended to provide the participants with updated knowledge and skills to serve the OEF/OIF veterans suffering from blast injuries, and related conditions including TBI, PTSD and chronic pain. Specifically, topics will include: • a definition of blast trauma, its characteristics, epidemiology, neuro-anatomy and neuropathology. • mechanisms of explosive blast injury. • the co-morbidity of PTSD, pain, and other psychiatric and somatic symptoms. • neurobiology of PTSD and pain. • neuro-imaging of post-TBI depression. • medical impact and implications for rehabilitation (including involvement of family members). • recovery from PTSD and pain following traumatic brain injury. • a panel discussion on cognitive rehabilitation. • an overview of pharmacological interventions. • the psychophysiology of PTSD and implications for biofeedback. • the use of virtual reality in the assessment, treatment and evaluation of PTSD and TBI. • complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) interventions. • special issues for female veterans (military sexual trauma and beyond).
Speakers will include a host of national and internationally known experts in the field of blast injury, PTSD, and pain:
Ibolja Cernak, MD, ME, PhD Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory Ronald G. Riechers, MDCleveland VA Medical Center Lonnie A. Nelson, PhDDefense and Veteran's Brain Injury Center Carmen V. Russoniello, PhD, LRT, LPC, BCIACEast Carolina University Gabriel Tan, PhD, ABPPMichael E. DeBakery VA Medical Center Kathleen Kortte, PhDJohn Hopkins University School of Medicine Una McCann, MD John Hopkins University School of Medicine Vani Rao, MD John Hopkins University School of Medicine James Fauerbach, PhD John Hopkins University School of Medicine Michael Smith, PhD John Hopkins University School of Medicine
More information on additional speakers will be released when available. We look forward to sharing additional details on the wide array of experts speaking at the Fall Workshop.
Friday, September 12, 2008
All too often victims go silent. They fear their attacker, they fear the reaction from their peers, they fear going public, they fear, they fear, they fear....
Fear is one of the many reasons victims remain silent about traumatic events of the sexual nature. Still, those silent voices need support. That one day when they come out of their silence and give voice to their souls, they may seek an outlet for what was held inside. Many criticize the silence of victims exclaiming it is wrong. They shout that attackers must be processed through the justice system. And, while these are valid points, not every victim has the strength to speak up nor the support system to give them the encouragement to do so.
Be kind to those who are silent for you know not what has caused them to be so. Likewise, when they do speak, listen with empathy and be supportive, for it is the survivor within you who can embrace them and lead them down the path of resources and help that exist in this day and age.
This group exists for the survivors who have come out and shared their experiences, but it also for those who have been silent and may remain so for many years to come. Know you are not alone. Know that there is help, when you choose to access it. Know you are a survivor too.
Fear is one of the many reasons victims remain silent about traumatic events of the sexual nature. Still, those silent voices need support. That one day when they come out of their silence and give voice to their souls, they may seek an outlet for what was held inside. Many criticize the silence of victims exclaiming it is wrong. They shout that attackers must be processed through the justice system. And, while these are valid points, not every victim has the strength to speak up nor the support system to give them the encouragement to do so.
Be kind to those who are silent for you know not what has caused them to be so. Likewise, when they do speak, listen with empathy and be supportive, for it is the survivor within you who can embrace them and lead them down the path of resources and help that exist in this day and age.
-----
This group exists for the survivors who have come out and shared their experiences, but it also for those who have been silent and may remain so for many years to come. Know you are not alone. Know that there is help, when you choose to access it. Know you are a survivor too.
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