Citation

Murdoch M, Polusny MA, Hodges J, O'Brien N. Mil. Med. 2004; 169(5): 392-395.

Affiliation

Center for Chronic Disease Outcomes Research and Section General Internal Medicine, Minneapolis VA Medical Center, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Minnesota School of Medicine, One Veterans Drive (111-0), Minneapolis, MN 55417, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, Association of Military Surgeons of the United States)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

15186007

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence of in-service and post-service sexual assault among combat and noncombat veterans seeking Veteran's Affairs disability benefits for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). METHODS: Cross-sectional survey of 4,918 veterans. RESULTS: Surveys were returned by 3,337 veterans (effective response rate, 68%). Among men, 6.5% of combat veterans and 16.5% of noncombat veterans reported in-service or post-service sexual assault. Among women, 69% of combat veterans and 86.6% of noncombat veterans reported in-service or post-service sexual assault. CONCLUSIONS: Reported rates of sexual assault were considerably higher among veterans seeking Veteran's Affairs disability benefits for PTSD than historically reported rates for men and women in the general population. In this population, male gender and veterans' combat status should not dissuade clinicians from screening for sexual traumas.

Language: en