I have done some limited research & writing about MST and Sexual Assault on Campuses ( project) but just today had client described what I would have thought was Sexual Assault..... as PTSD..... am just curious if others have run across this connection either in clinical practice, research or the literature..... Thanks for any pointers....
I have investigated a lot of sexual assaults in the military, so many I have lost count. I have found majority come from newer soldiers. There are many that have faced combat; however, I can't positively say there is a link between the to. I hope that helps. Please reach out to me if you need further clarification.
Although I cannot provide specific references connecting the lived experiences of sexual assault and PTSD, it seems understandable that certain individuals may conflate these experiences. As we know, sexual abuse is likely to result in impairment in emotional, behavioral, cognitive, and interpersonal functioning in survivors. If one is not familiar with the proper definitions of both concepts, one may confuse the consequences of sexual assault for PTSD, without having that diagnosis. I would look towards qualitative research to examine the lived experiences and meanings attributed by survivors.
Some of the participants in my narrative study on the maternity care experiences of women who were sexually abused in childhood described symptoms of PTSD (re-experiencing, avoidance, negative cognitions, flight/fright reactions) but without actually naming it or having an official diagnosis. Are you familiar with the work of Julia Seng from the University of Michigan? Again this relates to maternity care, but I think you might find it helpful.
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