Combat Trauma and the Diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Female and Male Veterans

Abstract

Research suggests that women are generally more often diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than men. Nevertheless, mental health practitioners diagnose PTSD at higher rates in male veterans. This study examines whether PTSD is underdiagnosed in female veterans. The researcher administered scales measuring combat exposure, PTSD symptomatology, life stress, and current distress to 110 veterans; reviewed medical records to determine participants' diagnoses; and compared variables by gender using logistical regression, χ² tests, t tests, and descriptive statistics. The findings are that (a) men experienced higher levels of combat stress; (b) increased exposure to stress was associated with increased PTSD symptomatology; (c) men and women who were exposed to similar levels of stress were equally likely to have PTSD symptoms; and (d) men were more likely to be diagnosed with PTSD. The results suggest that female veterans are underdiagnosed with combat-related PTSD.