Psychological distress and mental health treatment among persons with and without active duty military experience, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, United States, 2007.
OBJECTIVE
To examine self-reported psychological distress (K-6 scale) and mental health treatment among persons with and without active duty U.S. military experience (ADME) currently residing in private residences in the U.S.


METHODS
Analysis of 2007 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data from 35 states, District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico (n = 202,029 for those answering all K-6 questions, the treatment question, and the ADME question)


RESULTS
Adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and education, overall mean K-6 scores of those with and without ADME were similar (p = 0.3223); however, more of those with, vs. without, ADME reported current mental health treatment (11.7 % vs. 9.6 %, p = 0.0001). Those with ADME receiving such treatment had a higher mean K-6 score (7.7) than those without ADME receiving such treatment (6.9) (p = 0.0032).


CONCLUSIONS
Community-dwelling persons with ADME have similar demographically-adjusted mean K-6 psychological distress scores, but greater likelihood of recent mental health treatment, compared to those without ADME.
Safran
Marc A
MA
U.S. Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA, 30333, USA. MSafran@cdc.gov
Strine
Tara W
TW
Dhingra
Satvinder S
SS
Berry
Joyce T
JT
Manderscheid
Ron
R
Mokdad
Ali H
AH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D040343:Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014857:Warfare; D055815:Young Adult