Relationship between utilization of mental health and medical services in a VA hospital.
Previous research has demonstrated a reduction in utilization of medical services following the initiation of psychiatric services for certain patients. The phenomenon has been called the offset effect. The authors investigated the offset effect in a Veterans Administration medical center setting. They found that the offset effect emerged only for patients who had high rates of use of medical services who received mental health services for 1 year or less. They discuss factors related to higher rates of medical care utilization as well as important differences between the present and previous research that require further study.
Massad
P M
PM
Psychiatry Service, VA Medical Center, White River Junction, VT 05001.
West
A N
AN
Friedman
M J
MJ
D000367:Age Factors; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors