Military sexual trauma (MST) has historically been associated with female service members, but it is also experienced by male service members. This article reviews reported prevalence and incidence rates of men's MST in 29 studies. Sources for these studies included the Department of Defense, the U.S. military service academies, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. There is significant variability in reported rates of men's MST. Averaging across studies covering the past 30 years, we found that MST is reported by approximately 0.09% of male service members each year, with a range of 0.02% to 6%. MST is reported by 1.1% of male service members over the course of their military careers, with a range of 0.03% to 12.4%. Determining prevalence and incidence rates for both men's and women's MST is fraught with limitations, including (a) cross-study variations in sample, method, definitions, and assessment and (b) barriers to reporting MST. Each of these limitations is reviewed with an eye toward identifying male-specific issues.

Previous research with other trauma populations demonstrated that internalizing and externalizing personality styles are associated with different PTSD comorbidities. The present study tested this association in two distinct Operation Enduring Freedom-Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) combat samples. Cluster analysis was used to categorize subtypes, which were compared on measures of PTSD, depression, anxiety, and substance use. Internalizers showed the highest rates of PTSD and depression. Externalizers had higher rates of alcohol problems in one sample only, whereas the other sample showed more substance misuse. In general, these findings suggest that this method of classifying trauma survivors is useful in OEF/OIF populations. Results suggest some differences across this population in terms of how substance use issues are expressed in externalizers.

Military sexual trauma (MST) is reported in approximately 20%-43% of female service members and veterans, and 1%-3% of male service members and veterans. These rates reflect thousands of individual cases. However, there is limited research on treatment interventions for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) associated with men's MST. The authors illustrate a model for integrating empirically based treatment protocols into an outpatient treatment program for PTSD related to men's MST. This model is based on Herman's trauma recovery model of safety, mourning, and reconnection. This proposed series of interventions integrates components of several empirically supported treatments into this model, including dialectical behavior therapy, seeking safety, and cognitive processing therapy. The aim of this approach is to first increase trust and knowledge about PTSD and MST, then increase distress tolerance and emotional regulation skills. This lays the groundwork for further trauma-focused treatment. The authors discuss lessons learned for facilitating treatment.

Significant rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration have been identified among men with military backgrounds. Research indicates posttraumatic stress symptoms place military men at increased risk for IPV perpetration, but may be negatively associated with IPV among nonmilitary samples. However, no previous studies have directly compared court-referred IPV offenders with and without military experience, which may have clinical implications if posttraumatic stress symptoms are differentially associated with IPV perpetration across these two samples. Twenty court-referred IPV offenders with military background were demographically matched with 40 court-referred IPV offenders without military background. As anticipated, self- and partner-report of physically assaultive acts and injurious acts during baseline assessment showed significantly greater physical assault and injury perpetrated by offenders with military background. However, 1-year follow-up data on convictions indicated a significantly lower rate of recidivism among offenders with military background than among nonmilitary offenders. As hypothesized, symptoms of posttraumatic stress at intake showed a significant positive correlation with IPV perpetration among offenders with military background; however, this relationship showed a negative correlation among offenders without military background. Clinical implications are discussed including treatment avenues, such as Veterans Courts and other incarceration diversion programs, which may be particularly appropriate for offenders with military backgrounds.