The impact of posttraumatic stress disorder on quality of life and health service utilization among veterans who have schizophrenia.
The present study examined the impact of comorbid posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on health-related quality of life and objective measures of health service utilization in 165 male veterans who have primary schizophrenia. Comorbid PTSD was assessed with the PTSD Checklist. Comorbid PTSD was significantly associated with decreased quality of life and increased medical service utilization, including increased psychiatric hospitalization and increased outpatient physical health visits, even after controlling for other clinical and demographic variables among this sample of patients who had primary schizophrenia. Veterans who have schizophrenia should be screened carefully for exposure to trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder.
Calhoun
Patrick S
PS
VA Mid-Atlantic Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center, USA. Patrick.Calhoun2@med.va.gov
Bosworth
Hayden B
HB
Stechuchak
Karen A
KA
Strauss
Jennifer
J
Butterfield
Marian I
MI
D015897:Comorbidity; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011788:Quality of Life; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*