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Utilization and Intensity of Outpatient Care Related to Military Sexual Trauma for Veterans from Afghanistan and Iraq

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Abstract

Little research has examined factors associated with the utilization of outpatient health care services related to sexual assault experiences. The Veterans Health Administration provides free outpatient treatment services to veterans who report military sexual trauma (MST); this system provides a unique opportunity to examine factors related to the utilization of mental health and non-mental health outpatient services by patients with sexual trauma. The current study examined sociodemographic, military service factors, and primary diagnoses related to utilization and utilization intensity of MST-related care among 4,458 Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom Veterans in a 1-year period after reporting an experience of MST. Of the veterans who reported MST, 75.9% received MST-related care. The most notable factor that influenced receipt and intensity of MST-related care was gender, where male veterans used less care than female veterans. These results have important treatment implications for both veteran and civilian sexual trauma survivors.

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Acknowledgments

Writing of this manuscript was supported by the VA Advanced Fellowship Program in Mental Illness Research and Treatment, VA Office of Academic Affiliations. The authors would like to thank Dr. Deborah Nazarian for her helpful feedback on this manuscript and Meghan Saweikis, M.S. for her programming assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Center for PTSD, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, 795 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA, 94025, USA

    Jessica A. Turchik PhD, Joanne Pavao MPH, Jenny Hyun MPH, PhD, Hanna Mark BA & Rachel Kimerling PhD

  2. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University Medical School, Stanford, CA, USA

    Jessica A. Turchik PhD

Authors
  1. Jessica A. Turchik PhD
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  2. Joanne Pavao MPH
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  3. Jenny Hyun MPH, PhD
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  4. Hanna Mark BA
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  5. Rachel Kimerling PhD
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Correspondence to Jessica A. Turchik PhD.

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The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the Department of Veterans Affairs or the United States Government.

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Turchik, J.A., Pavao, J., Hyun, J. et al. Utilization and Intensity of Outpatient Care Related to Military Sexual Trauma for Veterans from Afghanistan and Iraq. J Behav Health Serv Res 39, 220–233 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-012-9272-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11414-012-9272-4

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