Research for Women Veterans
Women have traditionally been underrepresented in medical research, leading to gaps in biomedical knowledge . By volunteering to participate in VA research efforts like those listed below, women Veterans can make a difference.
- VA’s National PTSD Brain Bank Collaborates with PINK Concussions Group
- The Vietnam Era Health Retrospective Observational Study (VE-HEROeS) is a large-scale survey study on the health and well-being of Vietnam-era Veterans. Approximately 54,000 scientifically selected individuals, including Vietnam-era Veterans and a comparison group of similarly aged Americans without military experience, have been invited to participate. Currently 39 percent of Veterans and 61 percent of the general U.S. population have returned their surveys. We strongly encourage invited women Veterans and civilians to participate if you have not already responded! More participation means more data for researchers to learn about the current health of Vietnam-era Veterans, and more knowledge to help VA care for these Veterans.
- Million Veteran Program - VA is studying how genes affect health and needs more women Veterans to participate.
- VA, Boston University, and the Concussion Legacy Foundation have partnered to form the Brain Bank to allow research on chronic traumatic encephalopathy and other brain diseases. Learn more and make a pledge to join the brain donation registry .
- Tango to help Parkinson’s research - This study will research if and how two different types of partnered dance (adaptive tango) affect brain activity in people with and without Parkinson’s disease.
- Service dogs for Veterans with PTSD - This study is to determine how Veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are helped by a service dog versus an emotional support dog.
- The VA National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research (NCRAR) mission is to improve the quality of life of Veterans and others with hearing and balance problems through clinical research, technology development, and education that leads to better patient care. They are currently looking for research participants for numerous studies.
- Concerning Trends in Suicide Among Women Veterans Point to Need for More Research on Tailored Interventions
- Million Veteran Program: Women Veterans
- Women Veterans Population Fact Sheet (2017)
- Understanding and Improving Pre- and Post-Natal Care for Women Veteran video and podcast
- VA Office of Inspector General Review of VHA Care and Privacy Standards for Women Veterans
- Women Veterans Forum
- Evidence Map: Women Veterans' Health Research Literature (2008-2015)
- VA Office of Health Services Research & Development (HSR&D), Women’s Health Topics
- Evidence Report: Non-Pharmacologic Treatments for Vasomotor Symptoms Associated with Menopause
- Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs Women Veterans Health Care Study (October 2016)
- Profile of Women Veterans: 2015
- Women Veteran Report: 2015
- VA Office of Research & Development, Women’s Health Research
- Study of Barriers for Women Veterans to VA Health Care (2015)
- Women Veterans Issues - A Historical Perspecitive
- National Veteran Health Equity Report
- Sourcebook: Women Veterans in the VHA Volume 3: Sociodemographics, Utilization, Costs of Care, and Health Profile (2014)
- America’s Women Veterans: Military Service History and VA Benefit Utilization Statistics (2011)
- Rates and correlates of disordered eating among women Veterans in primary care | MD Linx 05/2018
- Factors associated with persistent posttraumatic stress disorder among U.S. military service members and Veterans | BMC Psychiatry 03/2018
- Written Exposure Therapy Noninferior to Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD | Healio Psychiatriac Annals 01/2018
- Implementation Assessment of U.S. Office of Personnel Management’s Veterans Employment Initiative | 12/14/2017
- Study: Integrating Legal Aid With Medical Care Improves Veterans’ Lives | 12/2017
- Developing a Risk Model to Target High-Risk Preventive Interventions for Sexual Assault Victimization Among Female U.S. Army Soldiers | 11/2017
- Supporting United States Veterans: A review of Veteran-focused needs assessments from 2008-2017 | 11/2017
- Abortion knowledge and experiences among US servicewomen: A qualitative study | 11/2017
- 2017 Health of Women Who Have Served Report | 11/2017
- Diversity, Inclusion and Equal Opportunity in the Armed Services: Background and Issues for Congress | 10/04/2017
- Military Women's Health: A Scoping Review and Gap Analysis, 2000-2015 | 05/2017
- Characteristics of Female Veterans-An Analytic View Across Age-Cohorts: 2015
- American Public Health Association’ Medical Care Special Edition – Medical Care has published a special supplement on The State of the Science in VA Health Equity Research.
- Defense Advisory Committee On Women in the Services – 2017 Focus Group Report
- HSR&D In Progress: VA Healthcare for Women Veterans (03/02/2017)
- GAO Report GOA-17-52 — VA Health Care: Improved Monitoring Needed for Effective Oversight of Care for Women Veterans
- Got Your 6 2016 Veterans Civic Health Index
- Women’s Health Issues 2011 special supplement Health and Health Care of Women Veterans and Women in the Military and 2014 special collection on Women Veteran’s Health
- The Gerontologist 2016 supplement on Women Veterans in the Women’s Health Initiative
- Women at War, Edited by Elspeth Cameron Ritchie and Anne L Naclerio
PubMed.gov comprises more than 26 million citations for biomedical literature from MEDLINE, life science journals, and online books. Citations may include links to full-text content from PubMed Central and publisher websites. Please contact your local library to obtain the full-text of any of these references.
- Portnoy GA, Iverson KM, Haskell SG, Czarnogorski M, Gerber MR. A Multisite Quality Improvement Initiative to Enhance the Adoption of Screening Practices for Intimate Partner Violence Into Routine Primary Care for Women Veterans. Public Health Rep. 2020 Nov 18;33354920966022. doi: 10.1177/0033354920966022. Online ahead of print. PMID: 33207128
- Shivakumar G, Kroll-Desrosiers AR, Copeland L, Anderson EH, Maydon A, Mattocks K. Patterns of Treatment Utilization Across the Perinatal Period in the Center for Maternal and Infant Outcomes and Research in Translation (COMFORT) Veterans Study. J Womens Health (Larchmt). 2020 Nov 18. doi: 10.1089/jwh.2020.8435. Online ahead of print. PMID: 33211614
- Mattocks KM, Kroll-Desrosiers A, Kinney R, Bastian LA, Bean-Mayberry B, Goldstein KM, Shivakumar G, Copeland L. Racial Differences in the Cesarean Section Rates Among Women Veterans Using Department of Veterans Affairs Community Care. Med Care. 2020 Nov 16. doi: 10.1097/MLR.0000000000001461. Online ahead of print. PMID: 33201084
- Kroll-Desrosiers A, Copeland LA, Kuzdeba J, Oumarou AM, Mattocks K. Exploring the Extent of Perinatal Depression Screening in the Health Records of Veterans. Adm Policy Ment Health. 2020 Nov 2. doi: 10.1007/s10488-020-01094-3. Online ahead of print. PMID: 33140222
- Quality of life among women Veterans. J Am Assoc Nurse Pract. 2020 Nov;32(11):756-757. doi: 10.1097/JXX.0000000000000544. PMID: 33177335
- Turner AP, Harding KA, Brier MJ, Anderson DR, Williams RM. Military Sexual Trauma and Chronic Pain in Veterans. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2020 Nov;99(11):1020-1025. doi: 10.1097/PHM.0000000000001469. PMID: 32427603
- Martin JL, Carlson G, Kelly M, Fung CH, Song Y, Mitchell MN, Zeidler MR, Josephson KR, Badr MS, Zhu R, Alessi CA, Washington DL, Yano EM. Sleep apnea in women Veterans: results of a national survey of VA health care users. J Clin Sleep Med. 2020 Oct 30. doi: 10.5664/jcsm.8956. Online ahead of print. PMID: 33124975
- Greiner B, Ottwell R, Corcoran A, Hartwell M. Smoking and Physical Activity Patterns of U.S. Military Veterans With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: An Analysis of 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Mil Med. 2020 Oct 3;usaa330. doi: 10.1093/milmed/usaa330. Online ahead of print. PMID: 33007087
- Agaku I, Odani S, Nelson JR. U.S. Military Veteran Versus Nonveteran Use of Licit and Illicit Substances. Am J Prev Med. 2020 Oct 1;S0749-3797(20)30286-5. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2020.04.027. Online ahead of print. PMID: 33012620
- Stefanovics EA, Rosenheck RA. Gender Difference in Substance Use and Psychiatric Outcomes Among Dually Diagnosed Veterans Treated in Specialized Intensive PTSD Programs. J Dual Diagn. 2020 Oct 1;1-10. doi: 10.1080/15504263.2020.1822569. Online ahead of print. PMID: 33002376
- Quinn DA, Sileanu FE, Zhao X, Mor MK, Judge-Golden C, Callegari LS, Borrero S. History of unintended pregnancy and patterns of contraceptive use among racial and ethnic minority women Veterans. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2020 Oct;223(4):564.e1-564.e13. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2020.02.042. Epub 2020 Mar 3. PMID: 32142832
- Gomez F, Kilpela LS, Middlemass KM, Becker CB. Sexual trauma uniquely associated with eating disorders: A replication study. Psychol Trauma. 2020 Sep 17. doi: 10.1037/tra0000586. Online ahead of print. PMID: 32940521
- Kornblith E, Peltz CB, Xia F, Plassman B, Novakovic-Apopain T, Yaffe K. Sex, Race, and Risk of Dementia Diagnosis after Traumatic Brain Injury among Older Veterans. Neurology. 2020 Sep 4;10.1212/WNL.0000000000010617. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000010617. Online ahead of print. PMID: 32887780
- Sagalla N, Colón-Emeric C, Sloane R, Lyles K, Vognsen J, Lee R. FRAX without BMD can be used to risk-stratify Veterans who recently sustained a low trauma non-vertebral/non-hip fracture. Osteoporos Int. 2020 Sep 4. doi: 10.1007/s00198-020-05616-5. Online ahead of print. PMID: 32885318
- McGlade E, Rogowska J, DiMuzio J, Bueler E, Sheth C, Legarreta M, Yurgelun-Todd D. Neurobiological evidence of sexual dimorphism in limbic circuitry of US Veterans. J Affect Disord. 2020 Sep 1;274:1091-1101. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.05.016. Epub 2020 Jun 1. PMID: 32663937
- Denneson LM, Tompkins KJ, McDonald KL, Hoffmire CA, Britton PC, Carlson KF, Smolenski DJ, Dobscha SK. Gender differences in the development of suicidal behavior among United States military Veterans: A national qualitative study. Soc Sci Med. 2020 Sep;260:113178. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2020.113178. Epub 2020 Jul 9. PMID: 32682205
- Monteith LL, Holliday R, Holliman BAD, Brenner LA, Simonetti JA. Understanding female Veterans' experiences and perspectives of firearms. J Clin Psychol. 2020 Sep;76(9):1736-1753. doi: 10.1002/jclp.22952. Epub 2020 Mar 30. PMID: 32227687
- Rossi FS, Shankar M, Buckholdt K, Bailey Y, Israni ST, Iverson KM. Trying Times and Trying Out Solutions: Intimate Partner Violence Screening and Support for Women Veterans During COVID-19. J Gen Intern Med. 2020 Sep;35(9):2728-2731. doi: 10.1007/s11606-020-05990-0. Epub 2020 Jun 30. PMID: 32607932
- Volpe KA, Cichowski SB, Komesu YK, Rogers RG, Murata A, Murata G. Female Veterans With Diagnoses of Both Chronic Pelvic Pain and Overactive Bladder; How Do They Compare to Women Diagnosed With Interstitial Cystitis? Female Pelvic Med Reconstr Surg. 2020 Sep;26(9):591-593. doi: 10.1097/SPV.0000000000000597. PMID: 29746393
- Selby LD, Park-Egan BAM, Winges KM. Temporal Artery Biopsy in the Workup of Giant Cell Arteritis: Diagnostic Considerations in a Veterans Administration Cohort. J Neuroophthalmol. 2020 Aug 28. doi: 10.1097/WNO.0000000000001040. Online ahead of print. PMID: 32868573
- Garneau-Fournier J, McBain S, Turchik JA. Factors Associated with Sexual Satisfaction among Veterans Who Have Experienced Military Sexual Trauma. J Sex Marital Ther. 2020 Aug 26;1-15. doi: 10.1080/0092623X.2020.1808548. Online ahead of print. PMID: 32847446
- Gaeddert LA, Schneider AL, Miller CN, Monteith LL, Brenner LA, Katon J, Hoffmire CA. Recruitment of women Veterans into suicide prevention research: Improving response rates with enhanced recruitment materials and multiple survey modalities. Res Nurs Health. 2020 Aug 22. doi: 10.1002/nur.22065. Online ahead of print. PMID: 32827237
- Schexnayder CD, King S, Emelogu O. Documentation of contraceptive counseling in female Veterans of reproductive age. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2020 Aug 20;77(Suppl 3):S71-S77. doi: 10.1093/ajhp/zxaa159. PMID: 32706019
- Kravitz SA, Song KH, Cioffi JH, Vega Colon KM, Lu MA. A Bariatric Curveball: A Rare Case of Recurrent Lactobezoars after Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Surgery. Mil Med. 2020 Aug 14;185(7-8):e1294-e1297. doi: 10.1093/milmed/usz367. PMID: 32804234
- Cogan AM, Smith B, Bender Pape TL, Mallinson T, Eapen BC, Scholten J. Self-reported participation restrictions among male and female Veterans with traumatic brain injury in Veterans Health Administration outpatient polytrauma programs. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2020 Aug 11;S0003-9993(20)30507-4. doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2020.06.030. Online ahead of print. PMID: 32795563
- Monteith LL, Holliday R, Miller C, Schneider AL, Hoffmire CA, Bahraini NH, Forster JE. Suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, and non-suicidal self-injury among female Veterans: Prevalence, timing, and onset. J Affect Disord. 2020 Aug 1;273:350-357. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.04.017. Epub 2020 May 12. PMID: 32560928
- Dyer KE, Moreau JL PhD, MPH, Finley E PhD, MPH, Bean-Mayberry B MD, MHS, Farmer MM PhD, Bernet D MS, RDN, Kress A MS, RD, LDN, Lewis JL, Batuman FK MD, FACP, Haskell SG MD, Hamilton AB PhD, MPH, Moin T MD, MBA, MSHS. Tailoring an evidence-based lifestyle intervention to meet the needs of women Veterans with prediabetes. Women Health. 2020 Aug;60(7):748-762. doi: 10.1080/03630242.2019.1710892. Epub 2020 Jan 20. PMID: 31959089
- Maguen S, Holder N, Li Y, Madden E, Neylan TC, Seal KH, Lujan C, Patterson OV, DuVall SL, Shiner B. Factors associated with PTSD symptom improvement among Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans receiving evidenced-based psychotherapy. J Affect Disord. 2020 Aug 1;273:1-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.04.039. Epub 2020 May 1. PMID: 32421589
- Monteith LL, Holliday R, Miller C, Schneider AL, Hoffmire CA, Bahraini NH, Forster JE. Suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, and non-suicidal self-injury among female veterans: Prevalence, timing, and onset. J Affect Disord. 2020 Aug 1;273:350-357. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2020.04.017. Epub 2020 May 12. PMID: 32560928
- Khan AJ, Holder N, Li Y, Shiner B, Madden E, Seal K, Neylan TC, Maguen S. How do gender and military sexual trauma impact PTSD symptoms in cognitive processing therapy and prolonged exposure? J Psychiatr Res. 2020 Jul 26;130:89-96. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2020.06.025. Online ahead of print. PMID: 32798774
- Sullivan-Baca E, Naylon K, Zartman A, Ardolf B, Westhafer JG. Gender Differences in Veterans Referred for Neuropsychological Evaluation in an Outpatient Neuropsychology Consultation Service. Arch Clin Neuropsychol. 2020 Jul 24;35(5):562-575. doi: 10.1093/arclin/acaa008. PMID: 32128586
- Farmer CC, Rossi FS, Michael EM, Kimerling R. Psychotherapy Utilization, Preferences, and Retention among Women Veterans with Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. Womens Health Issues. 2020 Jul 14;S1049-3867(20)30047-5. doi: 10.1016/j.whi.2020.06.003. Online ahead of print. PMID: 32680627
- Devine DT, McMillan SC, Kip K, Powell-Cope G. Quality of life among women Veterans. J Am Assoc Nurse Pract. 2020 Jul 7. doi: 10.1097/JXX.0000000000000445. Online ahead of print. PMID: 32649382
- Aronson KR, Perkins DF, Morgan NR, Bleser JA, Vogt D, Copeland LA, Finley EP, Gilman CL. The impact of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and combat exposure on mental health conditions among new post-9/11 Veterans. Psychol Trauma. 2020 Jul 2. doi: 10.1037/tra0000614. Online ahead of print. PMID: 32614200
- Aronson KR, Perkins DF, Morgan NR, Bleser JA, Vogt D, Copeland LA, Finley EP, Gilman CL. Use of Health Services Among Post-9/11 Veterans With Mental Health Conditions Within 90 Days of Separation From the Military. Psychiatr Serv. 2020 Jul 1;71(7):670-677. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.201900326. Epub 2020 May 12. PMID: 32393157
- Iverson KM, Sayer NA, Meterko M, Stolzmann K, Suri P, Gormley K, Nealon Seibert M, Yan K, Pogoda TK. Intimate Partner Violence Among Female OEF/OIF/OND Veterans Who Were Evaluated for Traumatic Brain Injury in the Veterans Health Administration: A Preliminary Investigation. J Interpers Violence. 2020 Jul;35(13-14):2422-2445. doi: 10.1177/0886260517702491. Epub 2017 Apr 18. PMID: 29294714
- Khalifian CE, Knopp K, Wilks CR, Wooldridge J, Sohn MJ, Thomas D, Morland LA. The Association Between Sexual Functioning and Suicide Risk in U.S. Military Veteran Couples Seeking Treatment for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Arch Sex Behav. 2020 Jul;49(5):1601-1613. doi: 10.1007/s10508-019-01577-x. Epub 2020 Jan 8. PMID: 31915971
- Peltzman T, Ravindran C, Schoen PM, Morley SW, Drexler K, Katz IR, McCarthy JF. Brief Report: Opioid-Involved Overdose Mortality in United States Veterans. Am J Addict. 2020 Jul;29(4):340-344. doi: 10.1111/ajad.13027. Epub 2020 Mar 29. PMID: 32223045
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