A student-directed community project to support sexually abused women veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder

While awareness of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and sexual abuse c ontinues to grow, it has only been during the past few years that the milit ary has realized the prevalence and impact of sexual abuse inflicted upon w omen while on active military duty. Though Veteran Administration (VA) agen cies throughout the United States have given concerted attention to this pr oblem, published resources specific to PTSD and military sexual abuse have been limited. In this article the authors present the results of a 2 1/2-year endeavor to address the problem of PTSD and military sexual abuse at the Tulsa VA Outp atient Clinic. The project started with a research study and the subsequent initiation of a PTSD women veterans support group, and culminated in the d evelopment of resource manuals for both professional staff and women vetera ns.