By the Numbers - Jan. 30, 2017
28.5%
The percentage of "443,360 active duty service Veterans who deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq and subsequently utilized VHA services between Fiscal Years 2004 and 2013" who "had a non-routine military service discharge," according to a new study recently published online in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine -- Non-routine Discharge From Military Service: Mental Illness, Substance Use Disorders, and Suicidality.
Compared with routinely discharged Veterans, odds for nearly all diagnostic outcomes were significantly greater among Veterans discharged for disqualification or misconduct, including personality disorders (AOR=9.21 and 3.29, respectively); bipolar/psychotic disorders (AOR=3.98 and 3.40); alcohol/substance use disorders (AOR=1.55 and 4.42); and suicidal ideation and behaviors (AOR=2.81 and 2.77). Disability-discharged Veterans had significantly higher odds for diagnoses of anxiety disorders (AOR=1.97) and bipolar/psychotic disorders (AOR=3.93).
The researchers stress "the importance of discharge type as an early marker of adverse post-discharge outcomes," and "a need for targeted prevention and intervention efforts."
28.5%
The percentage of "443,360 active duty service Veterans who deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq and subsequently utilized VHA services between Fiscal Years 2004 and 2013" who "had a non-routine military service discharge," according to a new study recently published online in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine -- Non-routine Discharge From Military Service: Mental Illness, Substance Use Disorders, and Suicidality.
Compared with routinely discharged Veterans, odds for nearly all diagnostic outcomes were significantly greater among Veterans discharged for disqualification or misconduct, including personality disorders (AOR=9.21 and 3.29, respectively); bipolar/psychotic disorders (AOR=3.98 and 3.40); alcohol/substance use disorders (AOR=1.55 and 4.42); and suicidal ideation and behaviors (AOR=2.81 and 2.77). Disability-discharged Veterans had significantly higher odds for diagnoses of anxiety disorders (AOR=1.97) and bipolar/psychotic disorders (AOR=3.93).
The researchers stress "the importance of discharge type as an early marker of adverse post-discharge outcomes," and "a need for targeted prevention and intervention efforts."