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Yancey JR, Carson CN, McGlade EC, Yurgelun-Todd DA. A Literature Review of Mental Health Symptom Outcomes in U.S. Veterans and Servicemembers Following Combat Exposure and Military Sexual Trauma. TRAUMA, VIOLENCE & ABUSE 2024; 25:1431-1447. [PMID: 37313717 DOI: 10.1177/15248380231178764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Combat exposure (CE) and military sexual trauma (MST) are among the most common types of traumatic experiences faced by veterans and active duty servicemembers and, as such, have both garnered increased research focus over the past decades. However, there has not yet been a critical review of the literature to examine the distinct clinical presentations associated with different trauma types. This is particularly important, as understanding distinct clinical profiles could help researchers and clinicians refine treatment approaches based on trauma type. To address this question, we conducted a search of the available literature in PsycINFO and PubMed prior to October 2022. We identified 43 articles evaluating the distinct and overlapping clinical symptoms of CE and MST. Study findings were conceptually organized by psychiatric condition. In general, there was substantial variability in study methodology including sample size, composition, and operationalizations of CE and MST. Despite this variability, notable patterns emerged across studies. Specifically, MST and CE uniquely predicted posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, MST was more related to depressive symptoms and suicidality than CE, and CE appeared to be more related to alcohol use and other externalizing behaviors. Gender also played a significant role in the relationship between CE, MST, and clinical variables across studies. This review suggests that individuals with a history of MST and CE likely have distinct clinical presentations and more research into these presentations could better inform assessment and treatment. Important methodological gaps in the literature are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- James R Yancey
- Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Department of Veterans Affairs, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Huntsman Mental Health Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Chelsea N Carson
- Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Department of Veterans Affairs, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Huntsman Mental Health Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Erin C McGlade
- Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Department of Veterans Affairs, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Huntsman Mental Health Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Deborah A Yurgelun-Todd
- Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Department of Veterans Affairs, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Huntsman Mental Health Institute, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
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2
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Reinhardt KM, McCaughey VK, Vento SA, Street AE. In Their Own Words: Women Veterans Identify the Personal Consequences of Military Sexual Trauma Victimization. Violence Against Women 2024; 30:722-742. [PMID: 36617939 DOI: 10.1177/10778012221147909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
This qualitative study provides a platform for women veterans to inform our perspective of their experienced impacts following military sexual trauma (MST). We engaged 23 women veterans in semistructured interviews and used a grounded theory-informed thematic analytic approach, to interpret women's experiences. Women described negative impacts of their MST experiences across psychological, behavioral, and occupational domains. Less frequently, women discussed experiences of posttraumatic growth. These results aid our understanding of the complexities of women's posttrauma experiences and suggest that holistic intervention frameworks focused on a range of potential intervention targets are warranted in helping women veterans recover from MST.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Virginia K McCaughey
- Suffolk University and National Center for PTSD at VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Amy E Street
- National Center for PTSD at VA Boston Healthcare System and Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
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3
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Livingston WS, Tannahill HS, Meter DJ, Fargo JD, Blais RK. The Association of Military Sexual Harassment/Assault With Suicide Ideation, Plans, Attempts, and Mortality Among US Service Members/Veterans: A Meta-Analysis. TRAUMA, VIOLENCE & ABUSE 2023; 24:2616-2629. [PMID: 35763372 DOI: 10.1177/15248380221109790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Suicide rates continue to increase among service members/veterans. Military sexual harassment/assault (MSH/A) may increase risk of suicide, but little is known about the collective magnitude of associations between MSH/A and suicide outcomes, including ideation, plan, attempt, and mortality. The current meta-analysis addressed this literature gap while testing potential moderators of gender, marital status, discharge status, and military branch. PsycINFO, PubMed, Dissertations/Theses, relevant citation lists, and conference brochures were reviewed for papers that included quantitative analyses in English, U.S. military samples, and measures of MSH/A and suicide ideation/plan/attempt/mortality. The search resulted in 22 studies (N = 10,898,875) measuring the association of MSH/A with suicide ideation (k = 15), plans (k = 1), attempts (k = 14), and mortality (k = 2), with papers published from 2007-2021. MSH/A was associated with suicide ideation (r ¯ = .14) and attempts (r ¯ = .11, ps < .05). The association of MSH/A and suicide ideation and attempts was higher among women relative to men, those identifying as married versus not married, those actively serving compared to discharged, and those reporting service in the Air Force relative to all other branches. The association of MSH/A with suicide plans and mortality was not calculated due to the small number of studies reporting those effect sizes (ks = 1-2). The effect sizes observed suggest MSH/A is part of a larger network of risk factors for suicide. Moderators indicate that suicide risk is higher among specific groups, and prevention strategies would be most effective if they targeted these individuals. This research area would be strengthened by additional studies of plans and mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Diana J Meter
- Department of Psychology, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA
| | - Jamison D Fargo
- Department of Psychology, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA
| | - Rebecca K Blais
- Department of Psychology, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA
- Psychology Department, Arizona State University,Tempe, AZ, USA
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4
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Esopenko C, de Souza N, Wilde EA, Dams-O'Connor K, Teng E, Menefee DS. Characterizing the Influence of Exposure to Military Sexual Trauma and Intimate Partner Violence on Mental Health Outcomes among Female Veterans. JOURNAL OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE 2023; 38:8476-8499. [PMID: 36866584 DOI: 10.1177/08862605231156193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Military sexual trauma (MST) has deleterious long-term psychological consequences. Among female U.S. military members, MST is associated with increased risk for future interpersonal victimization, such as experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV). Few studies have investigated the implications of the cumulative effects of IPV and MST on psychological functioning. This study examined rates of co-exposure to MST, IPV, and their cumulative impact on psychological symptoms. Data were collected from 308 female Veterans (FVets; age: M = 42, SD = 10.4) enrolled in an inpatient trauma-focused treatment program in a Veterans Administration (VA) hospital. Data were collected at program admission on symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and current suicidal ideation. Lifetime trauma exposure was assessed using semi-structured interviews that identified adverse childhood events (ACEs) and combat theater deployment as well as MST and IPV. Group differences on psychological symptoms were examined among those exposed to MST, IPV, MST + IPV, and compared to FVets with ACEs or combat exposure, but no other adulthood interpersonal trauma (NAIT). Half of the sample (51%) reported experiencing both MST and IPV, approximately 29% reported MST, 10% reported IPV, and 10% reported NAIT. FVets in the MST + IPV group had worse PTSD and depression symptoms than either the MST or IPV groups. The NAIT group had the lowest scores on these measures. There were no group differences in current suicidal ideation; however, 53.5% reported at least one previous suicide attempt. FVets in this sample reported significant lifetime exposure to MST and IPV, with the majority having experienced MST + IPV. Exposure to MST + IPV was associated with greater PTSD and depression symptom severity, yet an overwhelming proportion reported current and past suicidal ideation regardless of trauma exposure history. These results demonstrate the importance of assessing for lifetime interpersonal trauma history when developing and providing mental and medical health interventions for FVets.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Elisabeth A Wilde
- George E. Wahlen Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Kristen Dams-O'Connor
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ellen Teng
- Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Veterans Integrated System Network (VISN) 16 Mental Illness Research and Clinical Care Center (MIRECC), Houston, TX, USA
| | - Deleene S Menefee
- Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX, USA
- Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Veterans Integrated System Network (VISN) 16 Mental Illness Research and Clinical Care Center (MIRECC), Houston, TX, USA
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5
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Galovski TE, McSweeney LB, Woolley MG, Alpert E, Nillni YI. The Relative Impact of Different Types of Military Sexual Trauma on Long-Term PTSD, Depression, and Suicidality. JOURNAL OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE 2023:8862605231168823. [PMID: 37102588 DOI: 10.1177/08862605231168823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Sexual assault and harassment in the U.S. military are very common. Military sexual trauma (MST) is defined as sexual assault or harassment experienced during military service; yet, the relative impact of sexual assault, harassment, and their combination is not well understood. Given the extent and potential severity of the long-term outcomes of MST, it is critical to evaluate the relative impacts of these types of MST on long-term mental health outcomes. Veterans (n = 2,590; 55% female) completed self-report measures of experiences of sexual assault and harassment perpetrated by coworkers during military service, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and suicidality. Controlling for combat exposure, all types of MST experiences (Harassment Only, Assault Only, or Both) compared to No MST predicted greater severity of PTSD, depression, and suicidality after military service. Compared to Veterans with No MST, those who experienced Both Assault and Harassment reported significantly more severe PTSD, depression, and suicidality followed by Harassment Only, and then Assault Only. Data suggest that different types of MST experiences have an impact on long-term mental health outcomes, and the combination of Both sexual Assault and Harassment is particularly deleterious.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tara E Galovski
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
- Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Elizabeth Alpert
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
- Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yael I Nillni
- VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
- Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
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6
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Ruiz F, Burgo-Black L, Hunt SC, Miller M, Spelman JF. A Practical Review of Suicide Among Veterans: Preventive and Proactive Measures for Health Care Institutions and Providers. Public Health Rep 2023; 138:223-231. [PMID: 35403486 PMCID: PMC10031829 DOI: 10.1177/00333549221085240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Suicide rates among veterans are higher than those of the general US population. Although veterans compose only 7.6% of the US population, nearly 14% of American adult suicides are among veterans. The rate of suicide is 1.5 times higher among all veterans and 2.1 times higher among female veterans compared with the general population. Only 47% of all veterans are enrolled in the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Healthcare System, leaving a large number either not receiving health care or receiving it outside the VA. Recent legislation has improved access to care for veterans outside the VA, highlighting the need for a broad public health approach to address veteran suicide and the need for all health care institutions and clinicians to be familiar with the unique health concerns in this population. The purpose of this narrative review was to summarize the risk factors contributing to veteran suicide and to provide guidance on how to assess and mitigate these risks. Suicide is preventable through recognition of risk and prompt intervention. Health care providers both inside and outside the VA system are uniquely situated at the intersection of the many contributing factors to veteran suicide and should have a structured, proactive approach to address the problem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Ruiz
- Frank H. Netter MD School of
Medicine–Quinnipiac University, North Haven, CT, USA
| | - Lucile Burgo-Black
- VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West
Haven, CT, USA
- Department of General Internal
Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Stephen C. Hunt
- VA Puget Sound Healthcare Systems,
Seattle, WA, USA
- University of Washington School of
Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Matthew Miller
- Office of Mental Health and Suicide
Prevention, US Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC, USA
- Suicide Prevention Program and Veterans
Crisis Line, Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, US Department of
Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Juliette F. Spelman
- VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West
Haven, CT, USA
- Department of General Internal
Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
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7
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Preston AM, Saigal S, Barrie R, McKinney H, Mooney S, Padala PR. Defeated No More: Meaning-Making After Military Sexual Trauma. Mil Med 2022; 188:usab528. [PMID: 35043959 DOI: 10.1093/milmed/usab528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Military sexual trauma (MST) has been a concern within our U.S. military for many years. Many interventions have been found to benefit this population, although meaning-based interventions are still lacking in this area. The purpose of this phenomenological study is to understand the meaning-making process and themes that arise for female military veterans as they narrate their experience(s) of MST. MATERIALS AND METHODS The qualitative study consisted of six female participants, from different areas across the nation, who all reported experiencing MST during their time in service. Their experiences of MST included both sexual harassment and sexual assault. Participants completed a semi-structured interview that was analyzed using an axial coding method to discover the major themes of each participant's interview. The participants discussed the positive and negative aspects of their journey following their MST experience(s). This study's procedures were approved by Adler University's Institutional Review Board. RESULTS Many found the interview to be a healing experience on their path of post-traumatic growth (PTG). There were eight major themes that arose from the data analysis under the three main domains of (1) creating a work or doing a deed, (2) experiencing something or encountering someone in a way to produce PTG, and (3) altering one's attitude toward unavoidable suffering. The eight themes were as follows: advocacy, adaptive coping, sense of family unit, psychological clarity, meaningful mantra, survivor mentality code, view of self in the world, and resiliency. CONCLUSIONS All participants endorsed engagement in some type of activity that fell into one of the three major domains identified above. This finding helped highlight the PTG that participants were able to experience through their meaning-making journey. There were several recommendations and study implications that were derived from this research study. With the themes introduced from this study, future treatment planning for individual survivors of MST can be better informed by the utilization of meaning-making techniques. Family and group meaning-based interventions would also be an area of continued exploration for this population. Future implications for practice are also included within this article. Significant limitations of the study include amount of participants, lack of diversity in sample population, qualitative study results, and lack of a more-personal interviewing process.
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8
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Hahn CK, Jarnecke AM, Calhoun C, Melkonian A, Flanagan JC, Back SE. Sexual Harassment and Assault During Deployment: Associations with Treatment Outcomes Among Veterans with Co-occurring PTSD and SUD. MILITARY PSYCHOLOGY 2021; 34:12-22. [PMID: 35340543 PMCID: PMC8942369 DOI: 10.1080/08995605.2021.1964901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Sexual trauma is common and increases risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance use disorders (SUD), and depression among veterans. Limited research has examined the impact of sexual harassment and assault during deployment on treatment outcomes among veterans with co-occurring PTSD and SUD. The current study examined frequency of exposure to sexual harassment and assault during deployment as a predictor of treatment outcomes among a primarily male sample of U.S military veterans diagnosed with current PTSD and SUD. A secondary analysis was performed using data from a randomized clinical trial examining the efficacy of Concurrent Treatment of PTSD and Substance Use Disorders using Prolonged Exposure (COPE) compared to Relapse Prevention (RP). Data from 69 veterans (91.3% male) who were deployed while in the service were analyzed using mixed models to determine whether frequency of exposure to sexual harassment and assault during deployment impacted changes in PTSD symptom severity, percent days using substances, and depressive symptoms during treatment. Over one-third of the sample (36.2%) reported exposure to sexual harassment and/or assault during deployment. Frequency of exposure to sexual harassment and assault during deployment was not a predictor of treatment outcome in any of the models, suggesting a similar response to treatment among those with varying frequency of exposure to sexual harassment and assault during deployment. Veterans with co-occurring PTSD and SUD who have been exposed to sexual harassment and assault during deployment may benefit from integrated trauma-focused treatments and treatments focused on decreasing SUD symptoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine K. Hahn
- Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Amber M. Jarnecke
- Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Casey Calhoun
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Alex Melkonian
- Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Julianne C. Flanagan
- Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
- Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
| | - Sudie E. Back
- Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
- Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, South Carolina, USA
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9
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Decker SE, Ramsey CM, Ronzitti S, Kerns RD, Driscoll MA, Dziura J, Skanderson M, Bathulapalli H, Brandt CA, Haskell SG, Goulet JL. Military sexual trauma and suicidal ideation in VHA-care-seeking OEF/OIF/OND veterans without mental health diagnosis or treatment. Psychiatry Res 2021; 303:114089. [PMID: 34247061 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2021.114089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Sexual trauma is a suicide risk factor. While military sexual trauma (MST) is frequently associated with suicidal ideation (SI) in women and men veterans who served in recent conflicts, less is known about MST's relationship to SI in veterans who have no documented mental health concerns. Of the 1.1 million post-9/11 veterans enrolled in the Veterans Healthcare Administration (VHA) we examined 41,658 (12.3% women, 87.7% men) without evidence of mental health diagnosis or treatment and who were screened for MST and SI using the standard VHA clinical reminders between 2008 and 2013. Relative risk estimates were generated using separate models for women and men. MST was reported by 27.9% of women and 2.9% of men; SI by 14.7% and 16.5%, respectively. The adjusted relative risk of MST on SI was 1.65 (95% CI 1.35, 2.00) in women, and 1.49 (95% CI 1.26, 1.75) in men. In this sample of veterans without evidence of mental health diagnosis or treatment, MST was associated with a high risk of SI in both genders. Positive MST screening should prompt SI screening and risk management if indicated, and further study of barriers to mental healthcare among MST survivors at risk for suicide is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne E Decker
- Pain Research, Informatics, Multi-morbidities, and Education Center, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States; Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut, United States.
| | - Christine M Ramsey
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States; Michael J. Crescenz VA Medical Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Silvia Ronzitti
- Pain Research, Informatics, Multi-morbidities, and Education Center, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut, United States; Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
| | - Robert D Kerns
- Pain Research, Informatics, Multi-morbidities, and Education Center, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States; Department of Neurology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States; Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
| | - Mary A Driscoll
- Pain Research, Informatics, Multi-morbidities, and Education Center, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
| | - James Dziura
- Pain Research, Informatics, Multi-morbidities, and Education Center, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut, United States; Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
| | - Melissa Skanderson
- Pain Research, Informatics, Multi-morbidities, and Education Center, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut, United States; Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
| | - Harini Bathulapalli
- Pain Research, Informatics, Multi-morbidities, and Education Center, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut, United States; Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
| | - Cynthia A Brandt
- Pain Research, Informatics, Multi-morbidities, and Education Center, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut, United States; Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
| | - Sally G Haskell
- Pain Research, Informatics, Multi-morbidities, and Education Center, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut, United States; Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
| | - Joseph L Goulet
- Pain Research, Informatics, Multi-morbidities, and Education Center, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut, United States; Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States
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10
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Wiblin J, Holder N, Holliday R, Jeon-Slaughter H, LePage J, Surís A. A Factor Analysis of the Suicide Cognitions Scale in Veterans with Military Sexual Trauma-Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. J Trauma Dissociation 2021; 22:319-331. [PMID: 33460353 DOI: 10.1080/15299732.2020.1869643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The Suicide Cognitions Scale (SCS) assesses suicide-specific cognitions which may drive suicide risk. Nonetheless, prior work has been mixed regarding optimal factor structure. Additionally, this measure has not been validated for use with veterans with military sexual trauma-related posttraumatic stress disorder (MST-related PTSD), a population that is at elevated risk for suicidal self-directed violence (SDV). This study sought to determine the optimal factor structure of the SCS for use with veterans with MST-related PTSD as well as its psychometric properties. An exploratory factor analysis revealed a four-factor structure, including unlovability, unbearability, unsolvability, and negative urgency. The SCS also demonstrated excellent internal consistency and good convergent validity. This study identified a novel factor, negative urgency, which may explain some of the predictive power of the SCS found in previous research. This paper provides initial support for a four-factor structure of the SCS among those with MST-related PTSD. Additional work remains necessary in evaluating the SCS as a tool for detecting risk for future suicidal SDV among veterans with MST-related PTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Wiblin
- Department of Psychiatry, Veterans Affairs North Texas Health Care System, Dallas, Texas, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Nicholas Holder
- San Francisco Veterans Affairs Health Care System, San Francisco, California, USA.,Sierra Pacific Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, San Francisco, CA, USA.,University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Ryan Holliday
- Rocky Mountain Mental Illness, Education, and Clinical Center for Suicide Prevention, Denver, Colorado, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Haekyung Jeon-Slaughter
- Department of Psychiatry, Veterans Affairs North Texas Health Care System, Dallas, Texas, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - James LePage
- Department of Psychiatry, Veterans Affairs North Texas Health Care System, Dallas, Texas, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Alina Surís
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
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11
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Strauss JL, Miller LJ, Strickland S. Applying Research to Advance Suicide Prevention in Women Veterans. Med Care 2021; 59:S6-S8. [PMID: 33438875 DOI: 10.1097/mlr.0000000000001434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Strauss
- Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
| | - Laura J Miller
- Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC
- Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL
| | - Susan Strickland
- Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC
- University of Georgia School of Social Work, Athens, GA
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12
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Gross GM, Ronzitti S, Combellick JL, Decker SE, Mattocks KM, Hoff RA, Haskell SG, Brandt CA, Goulet JL. Sex Differences in Military Sexual Trauma and Severe Self-Directed Violence. Am J Prev Med 2020; 58:675-682. [PMID: 32037020 DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2019.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Revised: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Previous research has demonstrated an association between military sexual trauma and risk for suicide; however, risk for self-directed violence such as suicide attempt or nonsuicidal self-injury following military sexual trauma is understudied. This study examines the relationship between military sexual trauma and serious self-directed violence resulting in hospitalization, as well as whether this relationship differs by sex. METHODS Participants were 750,176 Operations Enduring Freedom/Iraqi Freedom/New Dawn veterans who were enrolled in Veterans Health Administration care during the period of October 1, 2001-September 30, 2014 and who were screened for military sexual trauma. Data were analyzed in 2019. Bivariate analyses and Cox proportional hazards regression models were employed. RESULTS Women veterans were more likely to screen positive for military sexual trauma (21.33% vs 1.63%), and women and men were equally likely to experience serious self-directed violence (1.19% women vs 1.18% men). Controlling for demographic variables and psychiatric morbidity, military sexual trauma predicted serious self-directed violence for both men and women. Further, men with military sexual trauma were 15% less likely to experience self-directed violence compared with women with military sexual trauma (hazard ratio=0.85, 95% CI=0.74, 0.98). CONCLUSIONS Military sexual trauma is associated with risk for serious self-directed violence for both men and women veterans, and the relationship may be pronounced among women. Results underscore the importance of incorporating military sexual trauma into treatment and preventative efforts for self-directed violence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgina M Gross
- VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut; Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
| | - Silvia Ronzitti
- VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut; Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Joan L Combellick
- VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut; Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Suzanne E Decker
- VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut; Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Kristin M Mattocks
- Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts; VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System, Leeds, Massachusetts
| | - Rani A Hoff
- VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut; Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Sally G Haskell
- VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut; Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Cynthia A Brandt
- VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut; Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Joseph L Goulet
- VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, Connecticut; Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
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13
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Ursano RJ, Herberman Mash HB, Kessler RC, Naifeh JA, Fullerton CS, Aliaga PA, Stokes CM, Wynn GH, Ng THH, Dinh HM, Gonzalez OI, Zaslavsky AM, Sampson NA, Kao TC, Heeringa SG, Nock MK, Stein MB. Factors Associated With Suicide Ideation in US Army Soldiers During Deployment in Afghanistan. JAMA Netw Open 2020; 3:e1919935. [PMID: 31995212 PMCID: PMC6991281 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.19935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Understanding suicide ideation (SI) during combat deployment can inform prevention and treatment during and after deployment. OBJECTIVE To examine associations of sociodemographic characteristics, lifetime and past-year stressors, and mental disorders with 30-day SI among a representative sample of US Army soldiers deployed in Afghanistan. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In this survey study, soldiers deployed to Afghanistan completed self-administered questionnaires in July 2012. The sample was weighted to represent all 87 032 soldiers serving in Afghanistan. Prevalence of lifetime, past-year, and 30-day SI and mental disorders was determined. Logistic regression analyses examined risk factors associated with SI. Data analyses for this study were conducted between August 2018 and August 2019. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Suicide ideation, lifetime and 12-month stressors, and mental disorders were assessed with questionnaires. Administrative records identified sociodemographic characteristics and suicide attempts. RESULTS A total of 3957 soldiers (3473 [weighted 87.5%] male; 2135 [weighted 52.6%] aged ≤29 years) completed self-administered questionnaires during their deployment in Afghanistan. Lifetime, past-year, and 30-day SI prevalence estimates were 11.7%, 3.0%, and 1.9%, respectively. Among soldiers with SI, 44.2% had major depressive disorder (MDD) and 19.3% had posttraumatic stress disorder in the past 30-day period. A series of analyses of the 23 grouped variables potentially associated with SI resulted in a final model of sex; race/ethnicity; lifetime noncombat trauma; past 12-month relationship problems, legal problems, and death or illness of a friend or family member; and MDD. In this final multivariable model, white race/ethnicity (odds ratio [OR], 3.1 [95% CI, 1.8-5.1]), lifetime noncombat trauma (OR, 2.1 [95% CI, 1.1-4.0]), and MDD (past 30 days: OR, 31.8 [95% CI, 15.0-67.7]; before past 30 days: OR, 4.9 [95% CI, 2.5-9.6]) were associated with SI. Among the 85 soldiers with past 30-day SI, from survey administration through 12 months after returning from deployment, 6% (5 participants) had a documented suicide attempt vs 0.14% (6 participants) of the 3872 soldiers without SI. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This study suggests that major depressive disorder and noncombat trauma are important factors in identifying SI risk during combat deployment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J. Ursano
- Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Holly B. Herberman Mash
- Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Ronald C. Kessler
- Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - James A. Naifeh
- Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Carol S. Fullerton
- Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Pablo A. Aliaga
- Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Cara M. Stokes
- Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Gary H. Wynn
- Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Tsz Hin Hinz Ng
- Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Hieu M. Dinh
- Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Oscar I. Gonzalez
- Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Department of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Alan M. Zaslavsky
- Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Nancy A. Sampson
- Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Tzu-Cheg Kao
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
| | | | - Matthew K. Nock
- Department of Psychology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Murray B. Stein
- Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla
- Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, La Jolla, California
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14
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Russell DW, Russell CA. The evolution of mental health outcomes across a combat deployment cycle: A longitudinal study of the Guam Army National Guard. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0223855. [PMID: 31665175 PMCID: PMC6821079 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0223855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2019] [Accepted: 09/30/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
In the United States, National Guard soldiers have been called upon at unprecedented rates since 2001 to supplement active duty military forces. Frequent military deployments generate many occupational and environmental stressors for these citizen-soldiers, from serving in a dangerous zone to being away from family and home for long periods of time. Whereas there is a substantial amount of research focused on deployment-related health outcomes in relation to active duty (i.e., full-time) military populations, reserve forces are less understood. This study focuses on a United States Army National Guard combat unit deployed to Afghanistan. This prospective longitudinal study was conducted over the course an operational deployment cycle (i.e., before, during, and after) to document the evolution of salient mental health outcomes (i.e., post-traumatic stress, depression, general anxiety, and aggression). The findings show that both combat (e.g., killing others) and non-combat (e.g., boredom) stressors negatively affect mental health outcomes, and the severity of these outcomes increases over the course of a deployment cycle. Of special note, the study reveals key gender differences in the evolution of post-traumatic stress (PTS), depression, and anxiety across a deployment cycle: females report increased PTS, depression, and anxiety 6 months post-deployment, whereas the levels reported by males stabilize at their mid-deployment levels. The findings offer insights for medical providers and policymakers in developing more targeted health promotion campaigns and interventions, especially at the post-deployment phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dale W. Russell
- Consortium for Health and Military Performance, Department of Military and Emergency Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Cristel Antonia Russell
- Pepperdine University, Graziadio Business School, Malibu, California, United States of America
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15
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Stayton LE, Martin CE, Pease JL, Chard KM. Changes in suicidal ideation following cognitive processing therapy in a VA residential treatment program. MILITARY PSYCHOLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/08995605.2019.1630230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Laura E. Stayton
- Trauma Recovery Center, Cincinnati VA Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Colleen E. Martin
- Trauma Recovery Center, Cincinnati VA Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - James L. Pease
- Trauma Recovery Center, Cincinnati VA Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Kathleen M. Chard
- Trauma Recovery Center, Cincinnati VA Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio
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16
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Blais RK, Brignone E, Fargo JD, Livingston WS, Andresen FJ. The importance of distinguishing between harassment-only and assault military sexual trauma during screening. MILITARY PSYCHOLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/08995605.2019.1598218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Emily Brignone
- Department of Psychology, Utah State University, Logan, Utah
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17
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Khan AJ, Li Y, Dinh JV, Donalson R, Hebenstreit CL, Maguen S. Examining the impact of different types of military trauma on suicidality in women veterans. Psychiatry Res 2019; 274:7-11. [PMID: 30776710 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2019.02.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2018] [Revised: 02/10/2019] [Accepted: 02/10/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Suicide rates amongst women veterans are significantly higher than rates for their civilian counterparts. However, risk factors for suicide among women veterans remain unclear. The current study examined the impact of exposure to a number of military stressors (e.g., perceived life threat, killing in combat, military sexual trauma) on suicidal ideation (SI) in women veterans. A total of 403 women veterans responded to mailed self-report surveys, 383 (ages 24-70 years) returned fully completed surveys and were included in analyses, and 16% of those included endorsed current SI. Rates of endorsement for military stressors were as follows: 43% being wounded, 34% loss of someone close, 36% perceived life threat, 30% witnessing a killing or injury, 4% seeing injured or dead bodies, 4% killing in combat, 65% military sexual harassment, and 33% military sexual assault. A logistic regression analysis was conducted with all of the military stressors entered simultaneously to determine the effect on SI. Life threat and sexual harassment had the strongest associations with SI compared to other military stressors. These findings suggest that particular military stressors may play an especially important role in SI in women veterans. Implications and future research considerations are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- A J Khan
- San Francisco VA Medical Center, 4150 Clement Street, San Francisco, CA, United States.
| | - Y Li
- San Francisco VA Medical Center, 4150 Clement Street, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - J V Dinh
- Department of Psychological Sciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, United States
| | - R Donalson
- San Francisco VA Medical Center, 4150 Clement Street, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - C L Hebenstreit
- VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, USA; School of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - S Maguen
- San Francisco VA Medical Center, 4150 Clement Street, San Francisco, CA, United States; Department of Psychiatry, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States
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18
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Griffith J. The Sexual Harassment-Suicide Connection in the U.S. Military: Contextual Effects of Hostile Work Environment and Trusted Unit Leaders. Suicide Life Threat Behav 2019; 49:41-53. [PMID: 28972302 DOI: 10.1111/sltb.12401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2017] [Accepted: 07/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Sexual harassment has been associated with suicidal behaviors, and with the rise in suicides in the U.S. military, sexual harassment's role in suicide has been of growing interest. Lacking are studies that examine group- or unit-level variables in the relationship of sexual harassment to suicidal behaviors (thoughts, plans, and attempts). In this study, survey data from soldiers (12,567 soldiers in 180 company-sized units) who completed the Unit Risk Inventory administered during calendar year 2010 were analyzed using hierarchical linear modeling. At the individual level, sexual harassment was associated with a fivefold increase for risk of suicide. Reporting that leaders could be trusted was associated with a decreased suicide risk by about one-third. There was no statistically significant interaction between sexual harassment and trusted leaders in predicting the suicidal behaviors. At the group level, units or companies having higher levels of sexual harassment also had soldiers three times more at risk for suicide. A cross-leveling effect was also observed: Among units having higher levels of sexual harassment, the negative correlation (buffering effect of unit leaders on suicidal behaviors) was diminished. Implications of findings for preventing sexual harassment and suicide risk are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Griffith
- National Center for Veterans Studies, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
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19
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Monteith LL, Hoffmire CA, Holliday R, Park CL, Mazure CM, Hoff RA. Do unit and post-deployment social support influence the association between deployment sexual trauma and suicidal ideation? Psychiatry Res 2018; 270:673-681. [PMID: 30384288 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.10.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2017] [Revised: 10/21/2018] [Accepted: 10/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Deployment sexual trauma is associated with post-deployment suicidal ideation. No studies have examined the role of social support in this association. The present study examined if perceived unit support and post-deployment support influenced the association between deployment sexual trauma and suicidal ideation. 824 post-9/11 veterans (480 men, 344 women) from the Survey of Experiences of Returning Veterans completed the Deployment Risk and Resilience Inventory-2 and Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale. Age, possible depression, posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms, and lifetime suicide attempt were covaried. Among men, post-deployment support moderated the association between deployment sexual trauma and suicidal ideation; deployment sexual trauma predicted suicidal ideation only for men reporting low post-deployment support. Among women, post-deployment support mediated the association between deployment sexual trauma and suicidal ideation. Unit support neither moderated nor mediated the association between deployment sexual trauma and suicidal ideation. Among men who experience deployment sexual trauma, those with low perceived post-deployment support may be at particularly elevated risk for suicidal ideation and may benefit from more intensive monitoring and interventions that bolster social support. Increasing perceived post-deployment support for women who experience deployment sexual trauma is also warranted. Determining optimal ways to strengthen post-deployment support for sexual trauma survivors is essential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey L Monteith
- Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center for Suicide Prevention, Rocky Mountain Regional Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 1700N. Wheeling St., Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.
| | - Claire A Hoffmire
- Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center for Suicide Prevention, Rocky Mountain Regional Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 1700N. Wheeling St., Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Ryan Holliday
- Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center for Suicide Prevention, Rocky Mountain Regional Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 1700N. Wheeling St., Aurora, CO 80045, USA; Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Crystal L Park
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - Carolyn M Mazure
- Women's Health Research at Yale, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Rani A Hoff
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; VA Northeast Program Evaluation Center, West Haven, CT, USA
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20
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Decreases in Suicide Cognitions After Cognitive Processing Therapy Among Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Due to Military Sexual Trauma: A Preliminary Examination. J Nerv Ment Dis 2018; 206:575-578. [PMID: 29905663 DOI: 10.1097/nmd.0000000000000840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with suicidal ideation (SI) and suicidal self-directed violence (SDV). Military sexual trauma (MST) is a common precursor to PTSD among veterans. Survivors of MST are more likely to be diagnosed with PTSD and are at greater risk for SI than survivors of other forms of trauma. Suicide-specific beliefs (e.g., unlovability, unbearability, unsolvability) have been shown to be strong predictors of SI and future suicidal SDV. Suicide-specific beliefs were examined over the course of treatment and follow-up in 32 veterans (23 women, 9 men) who received cognitive processing therapy (CPT) for MST-related PTSD. Hierarchical linear models revealed that veterans who received CPT had significant reductions in suicide-specific cognitions regarding unbearability, unlovability, and unsolvability. These preliminary findings warrant replication in a randomized controlled trial with a larger sample that includes participants with more acute suicidal intent.
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21
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Gradus JL, King MW, Galatzer-Levy I, Street AE. Gender Differences in Machine Learning Models of Trauma and Suicidal Ideation in Veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. J Trauma Stress 2017; 30:362-371. [PMID: 28741810 PMCID: PMC5735841 DOI: 10.1002/jts.22210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2016] [Revised: 05/03/2017] [Accepted: 05/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Suicide rates among recent veterans have led to interest in risk identification. Evidence of gender-and trauma-specific predictors of suicidal ideation necessitates the use of advanced computational methods capable of elucidating these important and complex associations. In this study, we used machine learning to examine gender-specific associations between predeployment and military factors, traumatic deployment experiences, and psychopathology and suicidal ideation (SI) in a national sample of veterans deployed during the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts (n = 2,244). Classification, regression tree analyses, and random forests were used to identify associations with SI and determine their classification accuracy. Findings converged on several associations for men that included depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and somatic complaints. Sexual harassment during deployment emerged as a key factor that interacted with PTSD and depression and demonstrated a stronger association with SI among women. Classification accuracy for SI presence or absence was good based on the receiver operating characteristic area under the curve, men = .91, women = .92. The risk for SI was classifiable with good accuracy, with associations that varied by gender. The use of machine learning analyses allowed for the discovery of rich, nuanced results that should be replicated in other samples and may eventually be a basis for the development of gender-specific actuarial tools to assess SI risk among veterans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaimie L. Gradus
- National Center for PTSD and VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts, USA,Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Matthew W. King
- National Center for PTSD and VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts, USA,Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Isaac Galatzer-Levy
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Amy E. Street
- National Center for PTSD and VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts, USA,Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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22
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The influence of gender on suicidal ideation following military sexual trauma among Veterans in the Veterans Health Administration. Psychiatry Res 2016; 244:257-65. [PMID: 27504921 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2016.07.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2016] [Accepted: 07/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
No studies have examined whether military sexual trauma, as measured and defined within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), is associated with suicidal ideation among Veterans in VHA care, when taking prior suicide attempts into account. Research regarding the role of gender in this association is also limited. The present study examined: (1) whether military sexual trauma was associated with the presence of past-week suicidal ideation among 354 Veterans in VHA (310 men, 44 women); (2) whether gender moderated the association between military sexual trauma and suicidal ideation. Information regarding military sexual trauma, suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, and psychiatric diagnoses was obtained from self-report instruments and medical records. Adjusting for age, gender, combat, posttraumatic stress disorder, depressive disorders, negative affect, and lifetime suicide attempt, Veterans with military sexual trauma were significantly more likely to report suicidal ideation, compared to Veterans without military sexual trauma. Furthermore, the association between military sexual trauma and suicidal ideation was stronger for men compared to women. These results contribute to a growing literature identifying military sexual trauma as a risk factor for suicidal thoughts and behaviors among Veterans in VHA care and emphasize the importance of screening for suicidal ideation among survivors of military sexual trauma.
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23
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Perceptions of Institutional Betrayal Predict Suicidal Self-Directed Violence Among Veterans Exposed to Military Sexual Trauma. J Clin Psychol 2016; 72:743-55. [DOI: 10.1002/jclp.22292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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24
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Monteith LL, Menefee DS, Forster JE, Bahraini NH. A Closer Examination of Sexual Trauma During Deployment: Not all Sexual Traumas are Associated with Suicidal Ideation. Suicide Life Threat Behav 2016; 46:46-54. [PMID: 26096625 DOI: 10.1111/sltb.12171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2014] [Accepted: 03/31/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Military personnel can be exposed to a wide range of sexual trauma while deployed, including sexual harassment and sexual assault. We examined whether different types of sexual trauma during deployment associated with recent suicidal ideation among previously deployed OEF/OIF/OND veterans admitted to trauma-focused treatment (n = 199). More severe forms of sexual trauma (e.g., sexual assault) were significantly and positively associated with suicidal ideation. In contrast, sexual trauma involving verbal remarks (e.g., sexual harassment) was not associated with suicidal ideation. Our findings suggest that sexual harassment and sexual assault during deployment may be differentially associated with suicidal ideation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey L Monteith
- Denver Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Veterans Integrated Service Network 19 Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (VISN 19 MIRECC), Denver, CO, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Deleene S Menefee
- Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, VISN 16 MIRECC, Houston, TX, USA.,The Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jeri E Forster
- Denver Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Veterans Integrated Service Network 19 Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (VISN 19 MIRECC), Denver, CO, USA.,Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Nazanin H Bahraini
- Denver Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Veterans Integrated Service Network 19 Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (VISN 19 MIRECC), Denver, CO, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
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