title: Predictors of treatment interest and treatment initiation in a VA outpatient trauma services program providing evidence-based care.
abstract: The present study explored interest in treatment and treatment initiation patterns among veterans presenting at a VA posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) clinic. U.S. veterans who were referred for treatment of posttraumatic stress symptoms (N = 476) attended a 2-session psychoeducation and orientation class where they completed measures of demographic variables, PTSD and depression symptom severity, and interest in treatment. Consistent with previous literature and our hypotheses, Vietnam (OR = 1.78) and Persian Gulf veterans (OR = 2.05) were more likely than Iraq and Afghanistan veterans to initiate treatment. Veterans reporting more severe PTSD and depression symptoms were more likely to initiate treatment than not (OR for PTSD = 1.02, OR for depression = 1.02). Interest in treatment emerged as a strong predictor of treatment initiation. Specifically, interest in trauma-focused treatment showed a significant independent predictive effect on initiation such that veterans who expressed interest in trauma-focused treatment were significantly more likely to initiate treatment than those who did not express interest (OR = 2.13). Building interest in trauma-focused treatment may be a vital component for engaging veterans in evidence-based trauma-focused therapy.
authors.affiliation: Trauma Recovery Program, James A. Haley Veterans Administration Hospital, Tampa, Florida, USA.
authors.forename: Kristen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lamp
authors.forename: Kelly P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Maieritch
authors.forename: E Samuel
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Winer
authors.forename: Jonathan D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Hessinger
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Klenk
mesh_terms: D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D047830:Gulf War; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008297:Male; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012923:Social Class; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*; D047829:Vietnam Conflict