Psychological services
-
Psychological services · May 2018
Gender differences in associations between DSM-5 posttraumatic stress disorder symptom clusters and functional impairment in war veterans.
Understanding the links between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and functional impairment is essential for assisting veterans in transitioning to civilian life. Moreover, there may be differences between men and women in the relationships between PTSD symptoms and functional impairment. However, no prior studies have examined the links between functional impairment and the revised symptom clusters as defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th ed. (DSM-5; American Psychiatric Association, 2013) or whether the associations between PTSD symptom clusters and functional impairment differ by gender. ⋯ Among male veterans, global functional impairment was associated only with negative alterations in cognition and mood (β = .52, p < .001). However, by contrast, among female veterans, only marked alterations in arousal and reactivity were associated with global functional impairment (β = .35, p = .027). These findings suggest that there may be important gender differences with respect to the relationship between PTSD symptoms and functional impairment. (PsycINFO Database Record
-
Psychological services · Feb 2018
Gender differences in service utilization among Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and New Dawn Veterans Affairs patients with severe mental illness and substance use disorders.
Severe mental illness (SMI) and substance use disorders (SUD) are among the more chronic and costly mental health conditions treated in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Service use patterns of returning veterans with SMI and SUD have received little attention. We examined gender differences in the utilization of VA services among a national sample of Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, and New Dawn (OEF/OIF/OND) VA patients with SMI, SUD, and their comorbidity (SMI/SUD) in their first year of established VA care (N = 24,166). ⋯ SMI versus SUD conferred greater risk of psychiatric inpatient utilization among men than women (AOR = 1.83, 95% CI [1.43, 2.34]). Our findings point to gender differences in outpatient and acute service utilization among OEF/OIF/OND VA patients with some of the more chronic and costly mental health conditions. Further investigation of health care utilization patterns is needed to understand factors driving these gender differences to ensure that veterans have appropriate access to the services they need. (PsycINFO Database Record
-
Psychological services · Aug 2017
ReviewSuicide among American Indian/Alaska Native military service members and veterans.
Many American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities experience high suicide rates. However, there is little discussion in epidemiological and empirical literature about suicide-related outcomes among AI/AN military service members or veterans. ⋯ Discussion includes the potential for unique cultural protective and risk factors that could inform prevention efforts and some of the novel existing efforts to support AI/AN veterans are reviewed. Given concerning suicide rates among military service members and veterans, it is important for future research to clarify the risk to AI/AN military service members and veterans and how to best develop and implement effective suicide prevention/interventions. (PsycINFO Database Record
-
Psychological services · May 2017
Intimate partner violence, unhealthy alcohol use, and housing instability among women veterans in the Veterans Health Administration.
Women U. S. military veterans face particularly high rates of homelessness, which may be associated with psychosocial experiences including unhealthy alcohol use and experience of intimate partner violence (IPV). In this study, we examined clinical social health screening data to assess the association between housing instability and (a) experience of past-year IPV victimization, and (b) unhealthy alcohol use among 554 women receiving primary care from the Veterans Health Administration. ⋯ Experience of past-year IPV was associated with increased risk of housing instability (OR = 2.10, 95% CI [1.16, 3.81]), with 1 in 5 women screening positive for IPV also reporting housing concern. There was no statistically significant association between current unhealthy alcohol use and housing instability. Findings hold implications for addressing potential housing concerns among women VA patients. (PsycINFO Database Record
-
Despite the scale of veteran homelessness and government-community initiatives to end homelessness among veterans, few studies have featured individual veteran accounts of experiencing homelessness. Here we track veterans' trajectories from military service to homelessness through qualitative, semistructured interviews with 17 post-9/11-era veterans. Our objective was to examine how veterans become homeless-including the role of military and postmilitary experiences-and how they negotiate and attempt to resolve episodes of homelessness. ⋯ S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and community-based organizations offer a powerful means for getting veterans rehoused, veterans also recount numerous difficulties in accessing and obtaining VA services and assistance. Based on this, we offer specific recommendations for more systematic and efficient measures to help engage veterans with VA services that can prevent or attenuate their homelessness. (PsycINFO Database Record