Authors: Golub, Andrew; Vazan, Peter; Bennett, Alexander S.; Liberty, Hilary J.

Source: Military Medicine, Volume 178, Number 1, January 2013 , pp. 107-114(8)

Publisher: AMSUS - Association of Military Surgeons of the U.S.

Abstract:

ABSTRACT

Many veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq experience serious mental health (MH) concerns including substance use disorders (SUD), post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, depression, or serious psychological distress (SPD). This article uses data from the 2004 to 2010 National Survey on Drug Use and Health to examine the prevalence of unmet MH needs among veterans aged 21 to 34 in the general population. The prevalence of untreated SUD among veterans (16%) was twice as high as untreated SPD (8%), a nonspecific diagnosis of serious MH concerns. Surprisingly, similar rates of untreated SUD and SPD were found among a nonveteran comparison sample matched on gender and age. These findings suggest that reducing unmet need for MH treatment for veterans in the general population may require improving outreach to all Americans and creating greater acceptance for MH treatment. The need for further analyses of reasons for not obtaining treatment is discussed.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7205/MILMED-D-12-00131

Affiliations: 1: <aff id="aff1">National Development and Research Institutes, 71 West 23rd Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10010.

Publication date: 2013-01-01

More about this publication?

• Military Medicine is the Association's official monthly journal. The objective of the Journal is to promote awareness of Federal medicine by providing a forum for responsible discussion of common ideas and problems relevant to Federal healthcare. Its mission is: To increase healthcare education by providing scientific and other information to its readers; to facilitate communication; and to offer a prestige publication for members' writings.
  
  Military Medicine's 5-year Impact Factor: 1.061
  
  
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