title: A multisite study of Air Force outpatient behavioral health treatment-seeking patterns and career impact.
abstract: This study examined 1,068 cases of active duty Air Force service members seen in eight Air Force outpatient mental health clinics during a 1-year period. Age, gender, rank, marital status, special duty status, diagnostic category, treatment completion, and recommendations to the member's unit were examined across referral sources (i.e., self-referred, supervisor-referred, or commander-directed). Results showed significant differences across all variables, with self-referred members being more likely to be older, single, higher ranking, and without special duty status, as well as to have a less significant axis I diagnosis. Self-referred members were less likely to have confidentiality broken and to have career-affecting recommendations made. The implications of these findings, in terms of targeting interventions to increase self-initiated help-seeking behavior, and recommendations for future research are discussed.
authors.affiliation: 30th Medical Operations Squadron, Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA 93437, USA.
authors.forename: Anderson B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Rowan
authors.forename: Rick L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Campise
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000337:Aerospace Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002322:Career Mobility; D003219:Confidentiality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D008890:Military Psychiatry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010045:Outpatients; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States