23. Allostatic associations in women veterans with histories of childhood sexual assault

Women veterans have increased sexual victimization before entering the military and increased military sexual trauma (MST). Using the allostatic load model, we studied relationships between hair cortisol, cardiovascular and inflammatory biomarkers, stress, pain, PTSD, and history and frequency of childhood rape or attempted rape in 81 women veterans. The latter was reported by 27 women (33%). There was a trend for lower hair cortisol in these women [ t (63.92) = 1.91, p  = .06], suggesting a dampened hypothalamic–hypophyseal–pituitary axis. These women also had higher cholesterol [ t (69) = −2.62, p  = .01] and triglycerides [ t (68) = −2.23, p  = .03], higher perceived stress scores [ t (77) = −2.00, p  = .05], greater pain [ t (78) = −3.32, p  = .01], greater fatigue [ t (77) = −2.03, p  = .05], and there was a trend for lower plasma IL10 [ t (56.75) = 1.87, p  = .07] than women veterans without this history. We did not find evidence of higher CRP or IL-6 as has been reported in other studies, but many of these women were on medications that could suppress inflammation (antidepressants, anxiolytics, anti-hypertenives, statins, and anti-inflammatories). Of the 27 women who reported childhood sexual assault, 10 (37%) also reported MST. These data suggest that some women veterans who have suffered childhood sexual assault are vulnerable and have increased allostatic load and propensity for a variety of later illnesses.