|
SWHR Testimony on The Growing Needs of Women Veterans
The Growing Needs of Women Veterans: Is the VA Ready?
On May 20, 2009 Phyllis Greenberger, CEO and President of the Society
for Women’s Health Research advised the House Committee on Veterans
Affairs that the Veterans Administration is uniquely situated to lead
the nation in furthering essential sex differences research and in
translating that research into clinical practice.
Answering the question posed by the House Committee, “The Growing
Needs of Women Veterans: Is the VA Ready?” Greenberger indicated that
“the VA, along with many public and private institutions, still
maintains a male norm and atmosphere where women’s unique needs and
sensibilities are not taken into consideration or understood.” She
indicated that there are many medical conditions with different
prevalence rates and symptoms in men and women, including autoimmune
diseases, chronic and other pain conditions, and musculoskeletal
illnesses.
Greenberger focused on mental health, including PTSD, depression,
anxiety, and behavioral conditions. She reported some of the results of
a Society-sponsored conference on “PTSD in Women Returning from
Combat.” Researchers are beginning to understand better why women
suffer more frequently than men from PTSD, recognize that their
symptoms are different, and learn that women and men respond
differently to various treatments. Female PTSD patients can have more
depressive symptoms and thus benefit from different types of treatment,
such as prolonged exposure therapy and seem to do less well with SSRIs.
The summary of this conference was provided to the Committee and all
participants at the hearing.
Greenberger congratulated the Committee on holding the roundtable to
assess women veteran’s health care needs since women are the fastest
growing sector of VA users. Over 15 organizations representing women in
the military and women veterans described their experiences with the VA
and offered suggestions. Only the Society for Women's Health Research
raised the importance of sex differences and translational research as
a means of improving the healthcare and health of women veterans.
Greenberger concluded with a call for the VA to boost its funding into
research on sex differences, enhance the participation of women in its
clinical trials, and increase coordination among VA centers throughout
the country.
Read Greenberger's Full Testimony |
