Military sexual trauma as a risk factor for posttraumatic stress disorder in US women veterans (literature review)
https://doi.org/10.25016/2541-7487-2014-0-3-84-93
Abstract
Research publications on military sexual trauma (MST), indexed in the reference-bibliographic database Scopus in 1994-2012 were reviewed along with foreign dissertations submitted to ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database, and official electronic resources of the US Department of Veterans Affairs. MST is determined as a psychological trauma resulted from a physical assault of a sexual nature, battery of a sexual nature, or sexual harassment which occurred while the veteran was serving on active duty or active duty for training. US DVA runs a national screening program, in which every veteran seen for health care is asked about MST. As it turned out, every 4th woman and 100th man respond «yes», that they experienced MST. Usually, this only applies to veterans who sought medical help, so it is difficult to estimate the actual prevalence of sexual abuse in the military. According to the US DVA, prevalence of sexual harassment and assault is higher among women soldiers throughout their military service than among general population of women across the lifespan. MST is a stressful event, not a diagnosis, and there are a variety of reactions that women veterans can have in response to MST, as well as their needs. MST prevalence, risk factors and possible health consequences are described. PTSD risk was found to be 9-fold higher in women veterans with MST history as compared to women veterans without MST.
About the Authors
N. A. Mukhina
The Nikiforov Russian Center of Emergrency and Radiation Medicine, EMERCOM of Russia
Russian Federation
PhD Med. Sci., Senior Researcher
Russian Federation
PhD Med. Sci., Senior Researcher
V. I. Evdokimov
The Nikiforov Russian Center of Emergrency and Radiation Medicine, EMERCOM of Russia
Russian Federation
Dr. Med. Sci. Prof., Dept. of Life Safety, Extreme and Radiation Medicine
Russian Federation
Dr. Med. Sci. Prof., Dept. of Life Safety, Extreme and Radiation Medicine
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For citations:
Mukhina N.A., Evdokimov V.I. Military sexual trauma as a risk factor for posttraumatic stress disorder in US women veterans (literature review). Medicо-Biological and Socio-Psychological Problems of Safety in Emergency Situations. 2014;(3):84-93. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.25016/2541-7487-2014-0-3-84-93
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