title: Mental health outreach and screening among returning veterans: are we asking the right questions?
abstract: This study looked at predictors of mental health treatment utilization in a unique cohort of recently separated Veterans coming to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) (N=152). This convenience sample voluntarily completed questionnaires, which included mental health screening tools, during an outreach event at a large urban VA Medical Center. Researchers reviewed computerized medical records of these consenting participants to record VA treatment utilization. There is a statistically significant association between posttraumatic stress disorder screening results, functional impairment, and treatment-seeking. Certain functional impairments increase the odds of participation in VA mental health care. These include problems with school and/or work (odds ratio (OR)=2.8), physical fights (OR=2.8), physical health problems (OR=3.0), financial difficulties (OR=3.0), irritability/anger (OR=3.4), isolation (OR=3.8), drug use (OR=5.7), and problems with social support (OR=7.0). This study concluded that asking about symptoms alone may not capture the breadth and nature of Veterans' postdeployment difficulties.
authors.affiliation: War Related and Injury Study Center, US Department of Veterans Affairs.
authors.forename: Katharine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bloeser
authors.forename: Kelly K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: McCarron
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Batorsky
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Reinhard
authors.forename: Stanley J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Pollack
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Amdur
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D057566:Self Report; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: mental health; outreach; postdeployment health; veterans