Gender Considerations When Examining the Association Between Military Sexual Trauma and Chronic Pain Conditions
Military sexual trauma (MST) amongst veterans is a growing concern for the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Veterans who screen positive for MST receive VHA care for any injuries caused as a result of MST, psychological or physical, free of charge. MST is difficult to track, can result in long-term disability, and the burden of illness varies across genders. Current data highlights discrepancies seen across the literature of actual detected MST cases, with rates varying vastly. Efforts to track prevalence of MST identify additional concerns over the various comorbidities seen in MST cases. When examining symptom sequalae of MST, there is a myriad of documented health-related adverse outcomes. One commonly cited possible consequence of MST is the development of chronic pain. Additional gaps in the literature include a lack of understanding of gender differences (presentation and symptom severity). This literature review will examine the relationship between comorbid chronic pain and a history of military sexual trauma, and how this relationship differs among genders. More specifically, the prevalence of MST across the literature will be examined. Also, the literature review will focus on determining how comorbid diagnoses vary across gender. Additionally, the review will attempt to identify clinical implications for treating chronic pain following military sexual trauma.
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