Improved Attachment Style for Female Veterans Who Graduated Warrior Renew Sexual Trauma Treatment.

The Warrior Renew sexual trauma treatment program proposes to target perceived attachment style and the internal working models of interpersonal relationships. This study examined scores on the Relationships Scales Questionnaire and Brief Symptom Inventory pre- and posttreatment in a sample of 62 female veterans who graduated the program. Findings revealed that graduates of Warrior Renew reported significant decreases in fearful and dismissive insecure attachment and significant increases in secure attachment. Scores were significantly correlated with symptoms. Findings lend support to an upward spiral hypothesis associated with long-term positive outcomes found in previous research on Warrior Renew.

Delivering Integrative Restoration-Yoga Nidra Meditation (iRest®) to Women with Sexual Trauma at a Veteran's Medical Center: A Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVE: This pilot study examines iRest, a form of guided mindfulness meditation, and its ability to reduce symptoms associated with sexual trauma, including military sexual trauma (MST), in a sample of women seeking psychotherapy services at a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) medical center. METHODS: 90-minute sessions were held 19 times, twice a week for 10 weeks, except for the week with a holiday. Participants completed self-report measures Brief Symptom Inventory-18 (BSI), Posttraumatic Cognitions Inventory (PTCI), and the Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Check List (PCL) pre- and post-treatment. Sixteen women were recruited: 15 enrolled, 5 dropped due to transportation issues, and 10 completed the protocol. RESULTS: Completers reported significant decreases in symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PCL, t (9) = 3.17, p < 0.01, d = 0.66), negative thoughts of self-blame (PTCI t (9) = 2.96, p < 0.05, d = 0.52), and depression (BSI, t (9) = 2.33, p < 0.05, d = 0.64). Participants also offered verbal reports of decreased body tension, improved quality of sleep, improved ability to handle intrusive thoughts, improved ability to manage stress, and an increased feeling of joy. Participants also enthusiastically endorsed the class and stated they would take it again and recommend it to others. CONCLUSIONS: This small pilot study showed promising results for delivering iRest to women with sexual trauma in a VA medical center. Further research is warranted.

Military sexual trauma during deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan: prevalence, readjustment, and gender differences.

This study examines military sexual trauma (MST) in men and women deployed in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. A diverse sample of 470 (408 men and 62 women) completed anonymous self-report questionnaires. Seventy-seven reported MST: 51 (12.5%) men and 26 (42%) women. MST was significantly related to symptoms and readjustment and most strongly with intimacy problems. Of those with MST, 73% also reported exposure to war-related stressors. Gender differences revealed that women reported a higher prevalence of MST, but men were more likely to endorse MST with multiple war-related stressors. However, no gender differences were found on reports of symptoms, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or readjustment. Implications of these results are discussed.

Holographic reprocessing: Empirical evidence to reduce posttraumatic cognitions in women veterans with PTSD from sexual trauma and abuse.

Holographic reprocessing (HR) facilitates holistic reappraisal of attributions regarding interpersonal violence and maltreatment. The authors tested the feasibility to train therapists to run a protocol using HR to reduce negative thoughts associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in women veterans who have had sexual trauma or abuse. The study assessed pre- and postscores on the Posttraumatic Cognitions Inventory (PTCI) in a naturalistic clinical setting with 5 therapists. The protocol consisted of screening for PTSD, followed by an average of 9 HR treatment sessions. Twenty-two women were referred to the study; 17 enrolled and completed treatment (0% dropout rate). Significant decreases were found on all scales of the PTCI, with large effect sizes: total negative thoughts, t(16) = 4.42, p < .000, Cohen's d = 1.52, and 47% of the sample had reliable change (decreased negative thoughts; RC < -1.96). These findings suggest that HR is a promising treatment for sexual trauma PTSD. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved).