title: Does cynicism play a role in failure to obtain needed care? Mental health service utilization among returning U.S. National Guard soldiers.
abstract: In the present study, the authors examined cynicism, a trait associated with mistrust and a misanthropic world view, as an impediment to seeking needed mental health services among a group of National Guard Soldiers with diagnoses of anxiety, depression, or substance abuse or dependence after a combat deployment. On their return from deployment, 40 National Guard soldiers were assessed for self-stigma, current distress, attitudes toward mental health care, and psychiatric diagnoses. Eight and a half months later, mental health service utilization was evaluated. Cynicism assessed prior to deployment was associated with lower odds of utilizing mental health services independent of self-stigma and negative attitudes toward mental health care. Further, neither self-stigma nor attitudes toward mental health care predicted engaging in needed mental health care when cynicism was included in the model.
authors.affiliation: Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System.
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Arbisi
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rusch
authors.forename: Melissa A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Polusny
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thuras
authors.forename: Christopher R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Erbes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008950:MMPI; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011581:Psychological Tests; D013240:Stereotyping; D035502:Trust / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology