Spontaneous reports of emotional upset and health care utilization among veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder after receiving a potentially upsetting survey.
This study assessed the effects of a potentially distressing mailed survey on the emotional well-being and health care utilization (HCU) of 4,918 male and female veterans who applied for posttraumatic stress disorder disability benefits. Content analysis of spontaneous comments, in combination with analysis of subjects' HCU before and after receipt of the survey, suggested that spontaneously disclosed episodes of emotional upset were rare. In general, surveyed veterans' HCU decreased after receipt of the survey.
Halek
Krysten
K
Center for Chronic Disease Outcomes Research, Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN 55417, USA.
Murdoch
Maureen
M
Fortier
Larry
L
D000339:Affect; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014729:Veterans Disability Claims