Recovery-oriented Group Therapy for Veteran Men With Military Sexual Trauma

Approximately 3.5% of Veteran men and 44% of Veteran women report a history of military sexual trauma (MST).Although women disproportionately experience MST, the absolute number of men who report MST (55,500 from 2004-2013) is relatively similar due to the larger proportion of men in the military. Further, MST likely remains vastly underreported among men, who experience multiple barriers to disclosure. Men survivors often wait decades to seek care for MST-related distress, contributing to pervasive life impairment.

MST is associated with transdiagnostic complexity and is associated with increased prevalence of PTSD and depression, substance use disorders, suicide, difficulties maintaining relationships and employment, and homelessness. Important gender differences have been identified among MST survivors: men may experience stigma and shame related to masculinity and sexuality; the probability of opioid use disorder among men with a history of MST is nearly double that of women; and men with histories of MST also experience more severe PTSD symptoms, chronic mental health symptoms, sexual dysfunction and distress, and greater risk for homelessness. While gender-based shame appears central to MST-related distress and treatment underutilization, gender has often been overlooked in establishing evidence-based approaches, and no VA MST-related treatment has been developed specifically for men.

To address this critical service gap, I designed a 12-session, gender-tailored, multi-modal, recovery-oriented group therapy for men MST survivors as part of my clinical responsibilities as a VA staff psychologist. My intervention (the Men's MST Group, or MMG), which I have been delivering continuously for 5 years, is based on the Integrated Recovery-oriented Model (IRM) for mental health services, and promotes agency through delivery of dynamic, exposure- and mindfulness-based techniques intended to improve distress management, social belongingness, and hope. This transdiagnostic intervention also seeks to reduce shame. Exploratory evaluation signaled strong retention, as well as recovery and attitudinal shifts, including reductions in shame and PTSD symptoms. As one participant noted after completing the MMG, "I can say the word 'rape' without shame." Given these initial findings, rigorous research is warranted to refine, test, and prepare for implementation of the intervention. Moreover, given the fact that most participants wait decades to seek treatment, more research is needed to facilitate men's utilization of MST-related services. In this proposed CDA, guided by Intervention Mapping and the Access Re-conceptualization Model, I plan to iteratively refine the MMG by interviewing Veteran participants and mental health clinicians, conducting a pilot randomized trial, and evaluating feasibility within the VA, with the long-term goal of national implementation.

This mentored CDA will fill gaps in my training - particularly in gender-tailored intervention development, intersectionality, clinical trials and health services research, and mixed methods - to support my independence as a VA clinician scientist focused on enhancing mental health services for vulnerable Veteran populations. The Specific Aims are to:

Aim 1. Revise the MMG treatment protocol, with attention to factors that will support men's access to, and engagement and retention in, mental health interventions. 1a) Conduct semi-structured qualitative interviews (n=24) with VA mental health clinicians, Vet Center clinicians, MST coordinators, and MST experts. Findings will inform protocol revisions. 1b) Review the revised protocol by conducting two focus groups with the two recent MMG cohorts (n=8). 1c) Convene an Expert Panel with selected Aim 1a participants and VA Operations Partners to finalize the protocol.

Aim 2. Using the revised protocol, conduct a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) with men MST survivors (n=32), randomized to the MMG or Present-Centered Group Therapy (PCGT; control condition) (four cohorts: 2 experimental, 2 control). Investigate engagement (session attendance) as well as recovery-oriented outcomes (agency, hope, belongingness, shame-reduction) and psychological symptoms (PTSD, MDD, suicidality) assessed at pre-, immediate post-, and 6-month post-intervention.

Aim 3. Assess pilot RCT findings and plan for multisite trial (Year 5 Merit). 3a) Conduct post-intervention semi-structured interviews with RCT participants and interventionists to understand treatment engagement factors as well as perceptions of accessibility, feasibility, acceptability, appropriateness, and effectiveness. 3b) Reconvene the Aim 1c Expert Panel to discuss RCT results and potential facilitators, barriers, and strategies for implementation of the MMG in usual VA mental health care. 3c) In collaboration with operations partners, enhance the protocol and design the intervention package with system-level considerations in preparation for a multisite trial.

VA has identified MST as one of its highest priorities. Given the prevalence of MST among men and the deleterious, often protracted MST-related symptomatology, it is critical to develop tailored services for this population. This application responds to VA HSR\&D's research priorities of suicide prevention, mental health, and health equity, and ORD's priorities of increasing the real-world impact of VA research and actively promoting equity.