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

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.