MMPI-2-RF characteristics of veterans seeking treatment for military sexual trauma

Military sexual trauma (MST) is defined as experiences of sexual assault or repeated, threatening, harassment during military service. MST events may not qualify within posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) Criterion A, making symptoms associated with MST unique from trauma-related disorders. Little research has been done to understand those presenting for MST treatment. Thus, this article provides Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory 2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) scores of 33 U.S. veterans who experienced MST in an effort to better understand psychological and personality characteristics of this important and unique group of veterans. Our sample comprised mainly African American, female, U.S. Army veterans seeking treatment of MST at a Department of Veterans Affairs specialty clinic. A majority of participants reported an attempted or actual rape during their service, averaging 1.87 (SD = 1.33) MST events. The most common diagnoses assigned by diagnosticians at intake were PTSD, mood disorders, and personality disorders. With regard to MMPI-2-RF results, the sample generated elevated scores on somatic, mood, anxiety, and interpersonal dysfunction scales. Implications of these findings and areas of future research are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record