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Medical service utilization by veterans seeking help for posttraumatic stress disorder.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Calhoun, PS; Bosworth, HB; Grambow, SC; Dudley, TK; Beckham, JC
Published in: Am J Psychiatry
December 2002

OBJECTIVE: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been associated with higher rates of health complaints and medical conditions diagnosed by physicians, yet research examining the relationship between PTSD and health care utilization has been limited. This study compared the health service use of veterans with PTSD to that of help-seeking veterans without PTSD. The relationship between severity of PTSD and service utilization was also examined. METHOD: Data were collected from 996 veterans seeking an evaluation at a Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center specialty PTSD clinic in the southeastern United States between March 1992 and September 1998. Data included sociodemographic characteristics, severity of PTSD, and disability status. The outcome variable, VA health service utilization, was prospectively assessed 1 year from the date of the initial PTSD assessment. RESULTS: Although the use of VA mental health services by patients with PTSD was substantial (a median of seven clinic stops), these patients used more services in general physical health clinics that provided predominantly nonmental health services (a median of 18 clinic stops). Negative binomial regression models revealed that younger veterans with PTSD had greater health care utilization than those without PTSD who also sought services. Greater severity of PTSD was related to higher rates of mental and physical health service use among veterans without a service-connected disability. CONCLUSIONS: PTSD is associated with substantial health service use. The results highlight the importance of increased collaboration between primary care and mental health specialists, given that patients with PTSD are more likely to receive treatment in nonmental health clinics.

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Published In

Am J Psychiatry

DOI

ISSN

0002-953X

Publication Date

December 2002

Volume

159

Issue

12

Start / End Page

2081 / 2086

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Veterans
  • United States
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Regression Analysis
  • Psychiatry
  • Prospective Studies
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care
  • Middle Aged
  • Mental Health Services
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
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Calhoun, P. S., Bosworth, H. B., Grambow, S. C., Dudley, T. K., & Beckham, J. C. (2002). Medical service utilization by veterans seeking help for posttraumatic stress disorder. Am J Psychiatry, 159(12), 2081–2086. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.159.12.2081
Calhoun, Patrick S., Hayden B. Bosworth, Steven C. Grambow, Tara K. Dudley, and Jean C. Beckham. “Medical service utilization by veterans seeking help for posttraumatic stress disorder.Am J Psychiatry 159, no. 12 (December 2002): 2081–86. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.159.12.2081.
Calhoun PS, Bosworth HB, Grambow SC, Dudley TK, Beckham JC. Medical service utilization by veterans seeking help for posttraumatic stress disorder. Am J Psychiatry. 2002 Dec;159(12):2081–6.
Calhoun, Patrick S., et al. “Medical service utilization by veterans seeking help for posttraumatic stress disorder.Am J Psychiatry, vol. 159, no. 12, Dec. 2002, pp. 2081–86. Pubmed, doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.159.12.2081.
Calhoun PS, Bosworth HB, Grambow SC, Dudley TK, Beckham JC. Medical service utilization by veterans seeking help for posttraumatic stress disorder. Am J Psychiatry. 2002 Dec;159(12):2081–2086.
Journal cover image

Published In

Am J Psychiatry

DOI

ISSN

0002-953X

Publication Date

December 2002

Volume

159

Issue

12

Start / End Page

2081 / 2086

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Veterans
  • United States
  • Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Regression Analysis
  • Psychiatry
  • Prospective Studies
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care
  • Middle Aged
  • Mental Health Services