December 8, 2016
Military sexual trauma (MST) is associated with mental health problems in transgender Veterans. A study of 332 transgender Veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan found that MST was associated with likelihood of PTSD and personality disorder for both men and women, and with bipolar disorder and depressive disorder for women. Fifteen percent of the Veterans included in the study had experienced MST. The researchers conclude that medical forms should include gender identity in addition to biological gender, and that MST treatment should be culturally competent. (Journal of Traumatic Stress, December 2016)