Race and ethnicity as factors in mental health service use among veterans with PTSD.
Many veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) either do not seek treatment or participate in treatment only episodically. The authors conducted a retrospective cohort study using Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) administrative data to determine rates of mental health care use and to examine whether the odds of service use varied by race or ethnicity. They examined all veterans with a new diagnosis of PTSD during a one-year period. Analyses used logistic or negative binomial regression with generalized estimating equations to measure associations of race and ethnicity with mental health service use after controlling for demographic, disability, and access factors. After adjustment, veteran race, but not Hispanic ethnicity, was associated with decreases in some pharmacotherapy measures and increases in some counseling measures.
Spoont
Michele R
MR
Center for Chronic Disease Outcomes Research, VA Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN 55417, USA. michele.spoont@med.va.gov
Hodges
James
J
Murdoch
Maureen
M
Nugent
Sean
S
D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003130:Combat Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D003376:Counseling; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans; D006801:Humans; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D014481:United States; D014600:Utilization Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs