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Women Veterans (woman + veteran)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Medical Sciences72%

Selected Abstracts

Trauma history and risk of the irritable bowel syndrome in women veterans

ALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 4 2010
D. L. White
Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2010; 32: 551,561 Summary Background, Over 1.8 million women in the U.S. are veterans of the armed services. They are at increased risk of occupational traumas, including military sexual trauma. Aim, To evaluate the association between major traumas and irritable bowel syndrome among women veterans accessing Veteran Affairs (VA) healthcare. Methods, We administered questionnaires to assess trauma history as well as IBS, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression symptoms to 337 women veterans seen for primary care at VA Women's Clinic between 2006 and 2007. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between individual traumas and IBS risk after adjustment for age, ethnicity, PTSD and depression. Results, Irritable bowel syndrome prevalence was 33.5%. The most frequently reported trauma was sexual assault (38.9%). Seventeen of eighteen traumas were associated with increased IBS risk after adjusting for age, ethnicity, PTSD and depression, with six statistically significant [range of adjusted odds ratios (OR) between 1.85 (95% CI, 1.08,3.16) and 2.6 (95% CI, 1.28,3.67)]. Depression and PTSD were significantly more common in IBS cases than controls, but neither substantially explained the association between trauma and increased IBS risk. Conclusions, Women veterans report high frequency of physical and sexual traumas. A lifetime history of a broad range of traumas is independently associated with an elevated risk of the irritable bowel syndrome. [source]

Irritable bowel syndrome and dyspepsia among women veterans: prevalence and association with psychological distress

ALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 1 2009
L. S. SAVAS
Summary Background, The burden of functional GI disorders and their associations with psychological distress in women veterans is unclear. Aim, To examine 1-year prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and dyspepsia symptoms and their associations with anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among women veterans receiving primary care at a Veteran Affairs Medical Center Women's Clinic. Methods, Irritable bowel syndrome, dyspepsia and psychological distress were assessed using the validated self-administered Bowel Disorder Questionnaire, the Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventories, as well as the Mississippi Scale for Combat-Related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Questionnaire. Results, We enrolled 248 women (84% participation rate). Ninety-three (38%) reported IBS and 51 (21%) dyspepsia symptoms. Women with IBS and dyspepsia reported higher mean scores of anxiety (IBS: 24 vs. 12, P < 0.0005 and dyspepsia: 26 vs. 12, P < 0.0005), depression (IBS: 22 vs. 11, P = 0.0005 and dyspepsia: 23 vs. 11, P < 0.0005) and PTSD (IBS: 87 vs. 69, P < 0.001 and dyspepsia: 86 vs. 69, P < 0.0005). Age- and ethnicity-adjusted logistic regression analyses showed a 3- to 46-fold increase in odds of IBS and dyspepsia among women with anxiety, depression or PTSD. Conclusion, Women veterans have high prevalence of IBS and dyspepsia symptoms, both of which are highly associated with presence of depression, anxiety and PTSD. [source]

Trauma history and risk of the irritable bowel syndrome in women veterans

ALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 4 2010
D. L. White
Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2010; 32: 551,561 Summary Background, Over 1.8 million women in the U.S. are veterans of the armed services. They are at increased risk of occupational traumas, including military sexual trauma. Aim, To evaluate the association between major traumas and irritable bowel syndrome among women veterans accessing Veteran Affairs (VA) healthcare. Methods, We administered questionnaires to assess trauma history as well as IBS, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression symptoms to 337 women veterans seen for primary care at VA Women's Clinic between 2006 and 2007. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between individual traumas and IBS risk after adjustment for age, ethnicity, PTSD and depression. Results, Irritable bowel syndrome prevalence was 33.5%. The most frequently reported trauma was sexual assault (38.9%). Seventeen of eighteen traumas were associated with increased IBS risk after adjusting for age, ethnicity, PTSD and depression, with six statistically significant [range of adjusted odds ratios (OR) between 1.85 (95% CI, 1.08,3.16) and 2.6 (95% CI, 1.28,3.67)]. Depression and PTSD were significantly more common in IBS cases than controls, but neither substantially explained the association between trauma and increased IBS risk. Conclusions, Women veterans report high frequency of physical and sexual traumas. A lifetime history of a broad range of traumas is independently associated with an elevated risk of the irritable bowel syndrome. [source]

An investigation of the impact of posttraumatic stress disorder on physical health

JOURNAL OF TRAUMATIC STRESS, Issue 1 2000
Amy W. Wagner
Abstract In a large sample of Gulf War veterans (N = 2301) we examined the relations between PTSD symptoms assessed immediately upon returning from the Gulf War and self-reported health problems assessed 18,24 months later. PTSD symptomatology was predictive of self-reported health problems over time for both men and women veterans, even after the effects of combat exposure were removed from the analysis. Female veterans reported significantly more health problems than male veterans, however, there was no interactive effect of gender and PTSD on health problems. These findings provide further support for the theory that psychological response to stressors impacts health outcome. [source]

Irritable bowel syndrome and dyspepsia among women veterans: prevalence and association with psychological distress

ALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 1 2009
L. S. SAVAS
Summary Background, The burden of functional GI disorders and their associations with psychological distress in women veterans is unclear. Aim, To examine 1-year prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and dyspepsia symptoms and their associations with anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among women veterans receiving primary care at a Veteran Affairs Medical Center Women's Clinic. Methods, Irritable bowel syndrome, dyspepsia and psychological distress were assessed using the validated self-administered Bowel Disorder Questionnaire, the Beck Depression and Anxiety Inventories, as well as the Mississippi Scale for Combat-Related Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Questionnaire. Results, We enrolled 248 women (84% participation rate). Ninety-three (38%) reported IBS and 51 (21%) dyspepsia symptoms. Women with IBS and dyspepsia reported higher mean scores of anxiety (IBS: 24 vs. 12, P < 0.0005 and dyspepsia: 26 vs. 12, P < 0.0005), depression (IBS: 22 vs. 11, P = 0.0005 and dyspepsia: 23 vs. 11, P < 0.0005) and PTSD (IBS: 87 vs. 69, P < 0.001 and dyspepsia: 86 vs. 69, P < 0.0005). Age- and ethnicity-adjusted logistic regression analyses showed a 3- to 46-fold increase in odds of IBS and dyspepsia among women with anxiety, depression or PTSD. Conclusion, Women veterans have high prevalence of IBS and dyspepsia symptoms, both of which are highly associated with presence of depression, anxiety and PTSD. [source]

Meeting the needs of women veterans

NEW DIRECTIONS FOR STUDENT SERVICES, Issue 126 2009
Margaret Baechtold
The number of women veterans attending college is increasing. Campus professionals need to be aware of how issues pertaining to mental health, sexual assault, and gender identity may influence how these women make transitions to higher education. [source]

Factors associated with women's risk of rape in the military environment,

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 3 2003
Anne G. Sadler R.N.
Abstract Background Health hazards specific to women workers have not been adequately documented. This study assessed military environmental factors associated with rape occurring during military service, while controlling for pre-military trauma experiences. Methods A national cross-sectional survey of 558 women veterans serving in Vietnam or in subsequent eras was obtained through structured telephone interviews. Results Rape was reported by 28% (n,=,151) of participants, with consistent rates found across eras. Military environmental factors were associated with increased likelihood of rape, including: sexual harassment allowed by officers (P,<,0.0001), unwanted sexual advances on-duty (P,<,0.0001) and in sleeping quarters (P,<,0.0001). Conclusion Violence towards military women has identifiable risk factors. Work and living environments where unwanted sexual behaviors occurred were associated with increased odds of rape. Officer leadership played an important role in the military environment and safety of women. Assailant alcohol and/or drug abuse at time of rape was notable. Interventions and policies based on modifiable environmental risk factors are needed to increase protection for women in the workplace. Am. J. Ind. Med. 43:262,273, 2003. Published 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

A Student-Directed Community Project to Support Sexually Abused Women Veterans Suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

PUBLIC HEALTH NURSING, Issue 4 2000
Donna Marie Wing R.N., Ed.D.
While awareness of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and sexual abuse continues to grow, it has only been during the past few years that the military has realized the prevalence and impact of sexual abuse inflicted upon women while on active military duty. Though Veteran Administration (VA) agencies throughout the United States have given concerted attention to this problem, published resources specific to PTSD and military sexual abuse have been limited. In this article the authors present the results of a 2 ½-year endeavor to address the problem of PTSD and military sexual abuse at the Tulsa VA Outpatient Clinic. The project started with a research study and the subsequent initiation of a PTSD women veterans support group, and culminated in the development of resource manuals for both professional staff and women veterans. [source]