TREATING TRAUMA IN SPECIAL POPULATIONS - LESSONS FROM WOMEN VETERANS

Despite high rates of victimization in women, life-threatening trauma in women veterans has been largely overlooked. The experiences of this special population, while distinct in some respects, also relate to t he clinical care of women trauma survivors in general. Histories of wo men in the U.S. military and data from clinical settings suggest that women veterans confront various life stressors both within and outside the military context. The extent and effect of these experiences on a djustment and their implications for treatment of women survivors, how ever, have not been systematically explored. This article describes th e planning and evolution of one of the first specialized PTSD programs for women veterans. Larger numbers of traumatized women veterans are likely to seek mental health services over the next decade. Attention to their unique experiences and those of other special populations can significantly influence the care provided to female trauma survivors in general.