November 7, 2025
Explore female veterans and PTSD/trauma: prevalence, unique risks like military sexual trauma, comorbidities and tailored treatment.
Women veterans are the fastest-growing segment of the veteran population in the U.S., and they face distinct mental-health challenges. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), women veterans were about 9.4% of the veteran population in 2015 and are projected to reach approximately 16% by 2040. Among them, the prevalence of trauma exposure and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is disproportionately high—highlighting a vital need for tailored understanding, screening, and treatment.
In this article, we explore the topic of female veterans and PTSD/trauma—how trauma manifests in women who served, how comorbid mental-health conditions (depression, ADHD, anxiety, OCD, BPD, psychosis, eating disorders) intersect, what barriers to care exist, and what best practices in treatment look like.
Women veterans experience higher rates of PTSD than many of their male counterparts. For instance, the VA reports that PTSD is present in approximately 13 % of female veterans compared to 6 % of male veterans. Other sources estimate that women veterans may have lifetime PTSD prevalence rates around 13.4%.
While combat exposure is a known risk factor, female veterans also face high rates of other traumatic experiences—especially military sexual trauma (MST). MST involves sexual harassment, assault or repeated unwanted sexual contact during military service. The “Women Warriors” white paper highlights MST and co-occurring mental-health conditions as key PTSD risk factors for women veterans.
The combination of combat or deployment stress, plus interpersonal trauma such as MST, positions female veterans at a complex risk profile for PTSD and other trauma-related disorders.
PTSD in women veterans may present in similar domains as in men—but with differences in symptom patterns, triggers and co-morbidities. Women are more likely to report mood and anxiety symptoms, relational distress, and challenges with trust or safety in interpersonal contexts. (See further under comorbidities)
High rates of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), MST and relational trauma mean many female veterans sustain co-morbid depression or anxiety disorders. For example, trauma research shows women are at greater risk of complex trajectories of PTSD combined with depressive symptoms.
Some female veterans may already have pre-service ADHD or develop attention/executive dysfunction due to trauma or brain injury. Trauma exposure can exacerbate cognitive load and complicate diagnosis.
Female veterans may experience overlapping features: e.g., intrusive trauma-related thoughts (like OCD), relational instability (echoes of BPD), or body-image/compensation behaviours (eating disorders) as responses to trauma. These comorbidities deepen complexity of treatment.
While less frequent, severe trauma, PTSD and dissociation can sometimes lead to psychotic-like symptoms (e.g., flashbacks, hallucinations, derealisation). Especially when layered on MST and service-trauma, careful screening is needed.
Female veterans often report feelings of isolation (“no one understands me”), difficulty trusting others, challenges maintaining relationships or employment, and higher risks of homelessness compared to civilian women veterans.
Despite high need, women veterans may face barriers: fewer women-specific services, perceived stigma, competing roles (e.g., caregiving), and under-recognition of MST and gender-specific trauma. The VA notes women veterans are less likely to access some services compared to men.
Because much of MST and relational trauma is “invisible,” female veterans’ PTSD may be under‐diagnosed or misdiagnosed (e.g., as depression or anxiety only). The standard male-model of combat trauma may not fit their experiences.
When depression, eating disorders, ADHD or personality disorders are present, PTSD may be overlooked unless screening explicitly includes trauma, MST, deployment and relational factors.
Female veterans may face transitions from active duty to civilian life, parenting stress, aging, and health issues (e.g., reproductive, musculoskeletal) that intersect with trauma symptoms. These layered stressors complicate care pathways.
For female veterans with PTSD/trauma, evidence-based therapies include:
Given the overlap with depression, anxiety, ADHD, OCD, BPD, eating disorders and even psychosis spectrum symptoms, integrated, multidisciplinary care is essential: psychiatrists, psychologists, trauma therapists, social workers, occupational therapists.
Because female veterans and trauma/PTSD are often under-recognised, dedicated outreach is critical. Clinics must proactively screen for MST, relational trauma, co-morbid disorders and gender-specific stressors. Policy-wise, funding must support women-veteran mental-health programmes, childcare access and employment transition services. Research must continue into how PTSD/trauma manifests differently in women veterans and what interventions are most effective.
At Integrative Psych, our clinical experts specialise in trauma-informed care for female veterans and other service-members, addressing PTSD, complex trauma, MST, and comorbid mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, ADHD, OCD, BPD, eating disorders and trauma-related psychosis. With locations in Chelsea (NYC) and Miami, we provide gender-informed, veteran-sensitive care combining psychotherapy, psychiatric management, peer support, somatic therapies and functional life-skills support. If you or a loved one is a female veteran coping with trauma, transition or PTSD, we invite you to learn more about our team and schedule a confidential consultation.
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