By the Numbers - 25 August 2014
22%
The percentage of 2,230 soldiers receiving a PTSD diagnosis within 90 days of return from Afghanistan who had only one mental health care visit, according to a recent study published in the journal Psychiatric Services -- PTSD Treatment for Soldiers After Combat Deployment: Low Utilization of Mental Health Care and Reasons for Dropout. The researchers further report that 41% of these 2,230 soldiers "received minimally adequate care (eight or more encounters in 12 months)." Additionally:
Of 229 surveyed soldiers who screened positive for PTSD (PTSD Checklist score ≥50), 48% reported receiving mental health treatment in the prior six months at any health care facility. Of those receiving treatment, the median number of visits in six months was four; 22% had only one visit, 52% received minimally adequate care (four or more visits in six months), and 24% dropped out of care. Reported reasons for dropout included soldiers feeling they could handle problems on their own, work interference, insufficient time with the mental health professional, stigma, treatment ineffectiveness, confidentiality concerns, or discomfort with how the professional interacted.
22%
The percentage of 2,230 soldiers receiving a PTSD diagnosis within 90 days of return from Afghanistan who had only one mental health care visit, according to a recent study published in the journal Psychiatric Services -- PTSD Treatment for Soldiers After Combat Deployment: Low Utilization of Mental Health Care and Reasons for Dropout. The researchers further report that 41% of these 2,230 soldiers "received minimally adequate care (eight or more encounters in 12 months)." Additionally:
Of 229 surveyed soldiers who screened positive for PTSD (PTSD Checklist score ≥50), 48% reported receiving mental health treatment in the prior six months at any health care facility. Of those receiving treatment, the median number of visits in six months was four; 22% had only one visit, 52% received minimally adequate care (four or more visits in six months), and 24% dropped out of care. Reported reasons for dropout included soldiers feeling they could handle problems on their own, work interference, insufficient time with the mental health professional, stigma, treatment ineffectiveness, confidentiality concerns, or discomfort with how the professional interacted.