(PS11-A18) Associations Between Interpersonal Trauma Histories, Perpetrator Characteristics, and Mental Health Symptom Profiles Among Treatment-seeking Veterans Who Experienced Military Sexual Trauma

Previous research with Veterans seeking care for military sexual trauma (MST) using DSM-IV-TR criteria for PTSD has identified significant associations with dual trauma exposure and MST event characteristics and particular patterns of PTSD symptom clusters. For example, MST events involving multiple perpetrators were related to higher avoidance and hyperarousal, whereas a history of intimate partner violence among Veterans who experienced MST was associated with higher reexperiencing and avoidance symptoms. However, symptom typologies have not been investigated following adoption of the current four-cluster PTSD classification system in DSM-5. Further, the associations of recurrent interpersonal trauma and MST-related contextual assessment have not been expanded to investigate non-PTSD symptoms, such as probable depression and worry, that are frequent sequelae of MST exposure.  Recognition of phenotypic differences may assist providers in assessment, treatment planning, and optimizing outcomes. We present results of symptom screens for PTSD (Posttraumatic Checklist for DSM-5; Blevins et al., 2015), depression (PHQ-9, Kroenke et al., 2001), and worry (Penn State Worry Questionnaire; Meyer, 1990) Veterans completed as part of mental health evaluation and treatment planning procedures at a Midwestern VHA trauma specialty clinic. We reviewed Veterans’ clinical records to evaluate whether MST-specific characteristics (single vs. multiple perpetrators, single vs. repeated events of MST, superior military member- vs. peer military-perpetrated MST) or history of MST accompanied by exposure to other interpersonal traumas (childhood sexual trauma, adult interpersonal physical violence, adult exposure to non-military sexual trauma) were differentially related to levels of depression, worry, or posttraumatic symptom cluster severity. Three hundred and twenty-two Veterans with completed symptom screens had contextual variables documented within their chart. We will present results of contrasts of types of dual interpersonal trauma exposure and contextual MST event characteristics with the severity of PTSD, depressive, and worry-related symptoms, as well as with PTSD cluster variability. Theoretical and clinical implications will be discussed.