Ambulatory mental health services at a U.S. Army combat support post: the effects of the Persian Gulf War.
A study of ambulatory mental health services on a U.S. Army post where logistic support personnel are stationed compared utilization of psychiatric services before, during, and after the Persian Gulf War. Rates were calculated for service utilization for the at-risk groups from consecutive cases presenting at the post's ambulatory mental health services in the Department of Psychiatry. Our findings include a high rate of dysfunction for soldiers in training during the war; significant age, race, and sex differences between utilizers and non-utilizers throughout the study period; increased routine evaluations for military schools following the war; and significant increases in utilization of services by identified high-stress units during this conflict. Rates of utilization for a combat support post can be used for resource allocation and have implications for mental health manpower planning and stress prevention.
Koshes
R J
RJ
Department of Military Psychiatry, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Washington, DC 20307, USA.
Rothberg
J M
JM
D000328:Adult; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008877:Middle East; D008889:Military Personnel; D012307:Risk Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014857:Warfare