title: Rates and predictors of referral for individual psychotherapy, group psychotherapy, and medications among Iraq and Afghanistan veterans with PTSD.
abstract: This study examined rates of referral for medication, individual psychotherapy, and group psychotherapy within a Veterans Affairs (VA) posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) specialty mental health clinic. Participants were 388 Iraq and Afghanistan veterans who were referred for PTSD treatment following a mental health evaluation required for all new VA enrollees. The majority of the sample was referred for medication (79 %), with comparatively fewer referrals for individual (39 %) or group psychotherapy (24 %). Forty percent of participants were referred for combined medication and psychotherapy. Patient demographic and clinical characteristics were examined to determine whether these variables predicted referral type. Female veterans and those with lower clinician ratings of overall functioning were more likely to be referred for individual therapy. Group psychotherapy referrals were more common in veterans who were older, unemployed, identified as an ethnic minority, and had a comorbid anxiety disorder. There were no significant predictors of medication referral.
authors.affiliation: VA HSR&D Houston Center of Excellence, Houston, TX, USA, juliette.mott@va.gov.
authors.forename: Juliette M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Mott
authors.forename: Terri L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Barrera
authors.forename: Caitlin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hernandez
authors.forename: David P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: Ellen J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Teng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011613:Psychotherapy; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents