Psychotherapy Utilization and Retention in a National Sample of Veterans With PTSD

This study examines the demographic, diagnostic, and military variables associated with psychotherapy utilization and retention in a national Veteran sample.

A large administrative VA dataset (142,620 Veterans) was utilized. Logistic regression was used to determine predictors of psychotherapy utilization and retention.

Female gender was associat ed with increased psychotherapy utilization and retention. Geriatric age was associated with less retention in individual psychotherapy. Being a racial minority was associated with decreased utilization, but increased retention in group therapy. The majority of comorbid diagnoses were associated with longer retention in treatment. Depression was associated with decreased utilization but longer treatment duration. Dimensional symptom assessment demonstrated relationships with the dependent variables. Avoidance symptoms did not emerge as a barrier to treatment.

Differences in psychotherapy utilization and retention emerged across demographic, diagnostic and military variables, suggesting that these variables should inform outreach and treatment retention efforts for Veterans with PTSD.