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Service utilization among compensation-seeking veterans.
Anouk L Grubaugh1, Jon D Elhai, Jeannine Monnier
1Medical University of South Carolina, USA.
The Psychiatric Quarterly
|November 26, 2004
Summary
Compensation-seeking veterans reported more distress but did not differ in PTSD diagnoses or healthcare use compared to non-compensation-seeking veterans. Further research into PTSD service utilization is recommended.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
- Veterans Affairs
Background:
- Combat veterans often seek disability compensation, which may influence symptom reporting and healthcare utilization.
- Understanding the interplay between compensation-seeking status and clinical presentation is crucial for accurate assessment and treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between compensation-seeking status, symptom reporting, and healthcare utilization in combat veterans undergoing Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) evaluation.
- To compare distress levels, diagnostic outcomes, and healthcare service use between compensation-seeking (CS) and non-compensation-seeking (NCS) veterans.
Main Methods:
- Archival data from 68 combat veterans with available compensation-seeking status were analyzed.
- Self-reported distress and Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) validity scales were compared between CS and NCS groups.
- Healthcare utilization indices were examined for significant differences between the groups.
Main Results:
- CS veterans reported higher distress and MMPI-2 validity scale scores than NCS veterans.
- No significant differences were found in actual PTSD diagnoses between CS and NCS veterans.
- No significant differences were observed in overall healthcare utilization indices between the groups.
Conclusions:
- While compensation-seeking status is associated with higher self-reported distress and certain validity indicators, it does not appear to influence PTSD diagnosis rates.
- Exploratory findings suggest a trend towards increased PTSD service utilization among CS veterans, warranting further investigation.
- These findings highlight the complexity of assessing veterans and the need to consider compensation-seeking status in healthcare utilization patterns.