Evolution of Sexual Trauma Treatment in the Military

Military sexual trauma (MST) continues to be a widespread area of concern and has received much attention across the nation over the past decade. MST is a significant risk factor for developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The military component of MST makes this trauma even more of a risk factor due to the military culture of developing strong emotional bonds of trust essential for combat operations. Due to the paucity of evidence based treatments for PTSD secondary to MST, many treatment facilities would treat PTSD secondary to MST and combat PTSD with the same therapies, however, this proved to be insufficient. The Psychiatry Continuity Service at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center recognized this gap in treatment and specifically designed an outpatient intensive day program to provide a comprehensive clinical interventions targeting MST.