# Highlights

## Veterans Health Administration

> March 17, 2003
>
> **Study Shows that Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Aerobic Exercise
> Improve Symptoms in Ill Gulf War Veterans**
>
> In a recent study, VA doctors have found that symptoms experienced by
> Gulf War veterans resemble two chronic multi-symptom illnesses,
> chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and fibromyalgia (FM). The object of
> the study was to evaluate if cognitive behavior therapy or aerobic
> exercise could improve the chronic symptoms and functional status of
> ill Gulf War veterans.
>
> The cognitive behavior therapy portion of the study consisted of 12
> weekly group sessions that were 60-90 minutes long. The goal was to
> learn behavioral skills to improve physical functioning, gradually and
> safely. The aerobic exercise portion consisted of 12 weekly one-hour
> sessions with an exercise therapist, in an effort to increase activity
> level, by setting the intensity of exercise based on the level of
> symptoms. Patients were also instructed to exercise at least two or
> three times a week during the treatment phase and follow-up period.
>
> Cognitive behavior therapy, with or without aerobic exercise, led to
> improvements in mental health functioning and cognitive symptoms.
> Aerobic exercise, with or without cognitive behavior therepy, led to
> improvements in mental health functioning, cognitive symptoms, fatigue
> and distress. Neither therapy led to a significant decrease in pain.
>
> The article, titled, "A randomized, multi-center trial of cognitive
> behavioral therapy and aerobic exercise for Gulf War veterans'
> illnesses: A Veterans Affairs Cooperative Study" was published in the
> *Journal of the American Medical Association* March 19, 2003.
>
> **Study Finds Women Veterans Frequently Experience Rape During
> Military Service**
>
> In three different studies of women seeking VA medical care, between
> 23 percent and 29 percent reported sexual assault during military
> service. The objectives of the studies were to describe the
> characteristics of rape victims and assailants, and to identify
> workplace environmental factors associated with rape in the military.
> From November 1996 -- May 1997, a telephone survey was performed,
> which included a nationally-representative sample of 558 women
> veterans: 26% served in the Vietnam era; 47% served in the
> post-Vietnam era; and 27% served in the Gulf War era.
>
> Approximately 30% of the 558 women reported one or more attempted or
> completed rapes during military service; and 11% of the 558 reported
> two or more rapes. Rape occurred more frequently on base, during
> off-duty hours, and in living quarters (barracks). Women who joined
> the service at age 19 years or less, or who experienced rape as an
> adult before joining the service, were twice as likely to experience
> rape during military service.
>
> Three other factors were also significantly related to a two-fold
> increased risk of rape: on-duty experience of physical intimidation or
> believing oneself to be unsafe because of the number of male soldiers
> in the work area; observing heterosexual sexual activities in sleeping
> quarters; and ranking officer allowing others in the unit to make
> sexually demeaning comments or gestures in the service woman's
> presence.
>
> The article, titled, "Factors associated with women's risk of rape in
> the military environment" was published in the March 2003 issue of the
> American *Journal of Industrial Medicine*.
>
> **VA Employee Receives the 2002 National Institute of Building
> Sciences Award**
>
> Lloyd H. Siegel, acting associate chief service delivery office in
> VA's Office of Construction Management at recently received the 2002
> National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) Award. Siegel was
> selected to receive the award for his leadership, dedication and
> numerous contributions to the nation's veterans, the health care
> sector and the profession of architecture.
>
> Siegel also was cited for his valuable contributions in the
> development of innovative technical criteria, the creation of unique
> design concept to compliment health care advances, and the
> vulnerability assessment system during 2002 that in this post-911
> climate is serving as a model for all Federal agencies.