Document Type
Other
Publication Date
2025
Abstract
Background: Military sexual trauma (MST) is a pervasive issue within the armed forces, leading to profound psychological and physical consequences, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Purpose: The purpose of this literature review was to examine the effectiveness of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic therapies in reducing PTSD symptoms in military veterans who have experienced MST. Method: A comprehensive review of literature from PubMed and CINAHL yielded 488 articles, which were filtered to 14 peer-reviewed studies published within the last two decades. Results: The study yielded articles that focused on pharmacologic treatments such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), prazosin, and antipsychotics, as well as non-pharmacologic therapies including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), cognitive processing therapy (CPT), cognitive therapy (CT), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR), prolonged exposure (PE), and trauma-sensitive yoga. Findings indicate that while pharmacologic therapies, particularly SSRIs and SNRIs, demonstrate moderate effectiveness in symptom reduction, non-pharmacologic approaches, especially trauma-focused cognitive therapies, exhibit superior long-term efficacy in alleviating PTSD symptoms. Moreover, multicomponent therapy, integrating both approaches, shows promise in optimizing patient outcomes. Conclusion: Non-pharmacologic therapies, particularly trauma-focused cognitive interventions such as CPT and CBT, are the most effective treatments for PTSD symptoms in military veterans with MST, while pharmacologic treatments offer symptom relief but are less effective long-term; a combination of both approaches may provide the best outcomes, emphasizing the need for nurses to advocate for evidence-based, patient-centered care.
Publisher
South Dakota State University
Rights
Copyright © 2025 Lisa Wipf
Recommended Citation
Wipf, Lisa, "Effective Treatments for Veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from Military Sexual Trauma: A Literature Review" (2025). Schultz-Werth Award Papers. 48.
https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/schultz-werth/48
