title: Mental health treatment after major surgery among Vietnam-era Veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine mental health treatment use among Vietnam Veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder and determine whether undergoing major surgery interrupted mental health treatment or increased the risk of psychiatric hospitalization. Using retrospective data from Veterans Health Administration's electronic medical record system, a total of 3320 Vietnam-era surgery patients with preoperative posttraumatic stress disorder were identified and matched 1:4 with non-surgical patients with posttraumatic stress disorder. The receipt of surgery was associated with a decline in overall mental health treatment and posttraumatic stress disorder-specific treatment 1 month following surgery but not during any subsequent month thereafter. Additionally, surgery was not associated with psychiatric admission.
authors.affiliation: Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, USA Center for Applied Health Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System jointly with Scott & White Healthcare, USA jack.tsan@va.gov.
authors.forename: Jack Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Tsan
authors.affiliation: Center for Applied Health Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System jointly with Scott & White Healthcare, USA.
authors.forename: Eileen M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Stock
authors.affiliation: Albany Stratton VA Medical Center, USA.
authors.forename: David S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Greenawalt
authors.affiliation: Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, USA Center for Applied Health Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System jointly with Scott & White Healthcare, USA.
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Zeber
authors.affiliation: Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, USA Center for Applied Health Research, Central Texas Veterans Health Care System jointly with Scott & White Healthcare, USA.
authors.forename: Laurel A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Copeland
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D013502:General Surgery; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D011613:Psychotherapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology*; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*; D047829:Vietnam Conflict
keywords: Veterans; mental health treatment; posttraumatic stress disorder; surgery