Treatment utilization among OEF/OIF veterans referred for psychotherapy for PTSD

Abstract

Despite high levels of positive screening for mental health complaints, research indicates that veterans of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) seek mental health care at low rates. The purpose of this study was to examine treatment utilization in 200 consecutive OEF/OIF referrals to a PTSD specialist for psychotherapy. This study also examined the relationships between treatment engagement/completion and numerous demographic and clinical variables. This chart-review study identified whether referrals were seen at all and whether they completed psychotherapy (as defined by documented mutual agreement between therapist and referral). Chi-square analyses and t tests were performed to determine whether engagement and completion were related to gender, age, marital status, race, employment, school enrollment, branch of service, time since most recent deployment, number of deployments, service-connection rating, medication prescription, substance use and depressive disorder comorbidity, referral source, TBI screening results, and presence of pain problems and legal issues. Of 200 consecutively referred OEF/OIF veterans, 75 were never seen, 86 were seen at least once without completing, and 24 completed psychotherapy. Being married and employed and older age were associated with higher likelihood of completing therapy. Completers received significantly more sessions of psychotherapy than those who were seen without completing, but the 2 groups did not differ in the types of therapy received.