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Military sexual trauma (MST) is associated with future intimate partner violence (IPV) experiences among women Veterans. Yet, no studies have examined this relationship among men nor determined whether MST, as a sexual trauma, is more related to sexual IPV than other forms of IPV. Thus, this study examined the associations between MST, and separately military sexual harassment (MSH) and assault (MSA), with both lifetime IPV and past-year IPV (physical, sexual, and emotional) among men and women Veterans. Participants included 1094 Veterans (567 women, 524 men, 3 unknown) from a survey of post-9/11 Veterans enrolled in Veterans Administration healthcare. The survey assessed MST using the VA 2-item screen, past year IPV using the Extended-Hurt Insult Threaten Scream screener, and lifetime IPV using the Traumatic Life Events Questionnaire. Chi-square tests revealed that women Veterans reported higher rates of MST, lifetime IPV, and recent sexual IPV. Men reported higher rates of recent overall IPV and recent psychological IPV. Men and women had equal rates of recent physical IPV. For men, MST was associated with lifetime IPV and recent psychological IPV. Among women, MST was associated with lifetime IPV and all forms of recent IPV, particularly sexual IPV. Moreover, IPV had a stronger relationship to MSA than to MSH. Results indicate that MST is related to IPV for men and women Veterans yet this relationship is stronger for women. Importantly, MSA appears more related to IPV than does MSH, underscoring a need to examine these variables separately in future studies., Author(s): Mark R. Relyea [sup.1] [sup.2] , Galina A. Portnoy [sup.1] [sup.2] , Joan L. Combellick [sup.1] [sup.2] , Cynthia A. Brandt [sup.1] [sup.2] , Sally G. Haskell [sup.1] [sup.2] [...]

Significant research has focused on intimate partner violence (IPV) victimization among women Veterans, yet much less is known about women Veterans' IPV perpetration. Although military sexual trauma (MST) is a predictor of IPV victimization, military sexual assault (MSA), a component of MST, may predict especially adverse consequences for women Veterans. This study examined the unique effects of MSA on IPV victimization of, and perpetration by, women Veterans, and investigated posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and prior IPV victimization as potential mediators of IPV perpetration. Participants included 187 women Veterans drawn from a larger web-based survey. We assessed the two components of MST (MSA and harassment) at Time 1 (T1), PTSD symptoms at Time 2 (T2), IPV victimization at T2 and Time 3 (T3), and IPV perpetration at T3. MSA predicted multiple subtypes of IPV victimization and perpetration, whereas harassment predicted neither. Those who reported MSA were more likely to experience T3 psychological and sexual IPV victimization, with PTSD symptoms significantly mediating this path. MSA was also directly related to T3 psychological IPV perpetration and indirectly related to physical and sexual IPV perpetration through PTSD symptoms. MSA was directly related to T2 PTSD symptoms while T2 IPV victimization was directly related to T3 IPV perpetration. These findings underscore that women Veterans' IPV perpetration may be in response to their own IPV victimization through self-defense and/or due to their PTSD symptoms. Results support prevention, screening, and treatment for IPV victimization and PTSD symptoms to lower risk of future IPV revictimization and perpetration., Author(s): Galina A. Portnoy [sup.1] [sup.2] , Mark R. Relyea [sup.1] [sup.2] , Amy E. Street [sup.3] [sup.4] , Sally G. Haskell [sup.1] [sup.2] , Katherine M. Iverson [sup.3] [sup.4] [...]

Objective: Veterans are at high risk for eating disorders (EDs), and specifically for atypical anorexia nervosa (atypical AN). The current study aimed to better understand this under‐studied disorder and how it differs from weight loss without ED cognitive features. Method: Secondary analyses were conducted with data from a national study of Veterans (N = 882, 49.4% women). Participants were categorized into four mutually exclusive groups using the Eating Disorder Diagnostic Scale 5: probable atypical AN, a cognitive concerns group (Cog Only), a weight suppressed group (WS Only), and a no ED control group. Adjusted regression models were used to compare groups on measures of eating pathology and mental health. Three weight suppression thresholds (5%, 10%, and 15%) for probable atypical AN were also tested. Results: The sample was comprised of 12% probable atypical AN, 23.6% Cog Only, 16.3% WS Only, and 48.1% Control. The probable atypical AN group was most like the Cog Only group except for higher levels of dietary restraint. Atypical AN fared worse and was least like the Control group followed by the WS Only group. All weight suppression thresholds significantly predicted dietary restraint, with 5% being the best predictor. Discussion: Results found that probable atypical AN is a distinct clinical entity and that the exact weight suppression threshold associated with atypical AN is less important than having any weight suppression. Findings highlight the clinical significance of atypical AN and the importance of gaining a better understanding of how to address this clinical entity. Public significance: Atypical anorexia nervosa is a relatively underexamined but highly prevalent eating disorder in the Veteran population. Results show that ED cognitive features are more closely linked to clinically significant eating pathology and poor mental health than weight suppression alone suggesting that negative thinking about weight gain and appearance, regardless of the presence or severity of weight loss, may signal the need for specialized intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Military sexual trauma (MST) is strongly associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Among many potential factors explaining this association are unit and interpersonal support, which have been explored in few studies with veterans who have experienced MST. This project examines unit and interpersonal support as moderators and/or mediators of PTSD symptoms among post-9/11 Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn veterans who experienced MST. MST, unit support, and interpersonal support variables were collected at Time 1 (T1; N = 1,150, 51.4% women), and PTSD symptoms 1 year later at Time 2 (T2; N = 825; 52.3% women). Given gender differences in endorsed MST, models with the full sample (men and women) and women only were examined, while controlling for covariates related to PTSD, and a path model was examined among women veterans. Mediation was supported in the full model and women-only models, with the combination of both mediators demonstrating the strongest mediation effects (full-model: β =.06, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.03, 0.10], p <.001; women-only model: β =.07, [0.03, 0.14], p =.002). Among the women-only model, MST was negatively associated with unit support (β = −.23, [−0.33, −0.13], p <.001) and interpersonal support (β = −.16, [−0.27, −0.06], p =.002) and both support types were negatively associated with PTSD symptoms (unit support: β = −.13, [−0.24, −0.03], p =.014; interpersonal support: β = −.25, [−0.35, −0.15], p <.001). Moderation was not supported in the full model nor in the women-only model. Experiencing MST is associated with receiving less unit and/or interpersonal support, which in turn is associated with greater PTSD symptoms. More work is needed to understand and improve the impact of unit and community responses to MST on service members who experience MST. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the variation in firearm screening and access based on LGBT status among Veterans with the risk of firearm-related suicide in both LGBT individuals and Veterans. It mentions that the study aims to fill this gap by examining LGBTQI+ status, emergency department visits, and firearm screening and access using natural language processing and machine learning algorithms applied to clinical notes in the Veterans Affairs (VA) electronic health records.

Objective This study examined potential risk factors associated with healthcare utilization among patients with spine (i.e. neck and back) pain. Methods A two-stage sampling approach examined spine pain episodes of care among veterans with a yearly outpatient visit for six consecutive years. Descriptive and bivariate statistics, followed by logistic regression analyses, examined baseline characteristics of veterans with new episodes of care who either continued or discontinued spine pain care. A multivariable logistic regression model examined correlates associated with seeking continued spine pain care. Results Among 331,908 veterans without spine pain episodes of care during the 2-year baseline observation period, 16.5% (n = 54,852) had a new episode of care during the following 2-year observation period. Of those 54,852 veterans, 37,025 had an outpatient visit data during the final 2-year follow-up period, with 53.7% (n = 19,865) evidencing continued spine pain care. Those with continued care were more likely to be overweight or obese, non-smokers, Army veterans, have higher education, and had higher rates of diagnoses of all medical and mental health conditions examined at baseline. Among several important findings, women had 13% lower odds of continued care during the final 2-year observation period, OR 0.87 (0.81, 0.95). Conclusions A number of important demographics and clinical correlates were associated with increased likelihood of seeking new and continued episodes of care for spine pain; however, further examination of risk factors associated with healthcare utilization for spine pain is indicated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]