Romantic partners are thought to have an influence on mental health help-seeking, but limited research exists on this process. The present study sought to better understand and increase help-seeking behavior for mental health concerns by examining the impact of various conversational tactics (autonomy support, accommodation, and criticism) and other variables on help-seeking. The sample consisted of 282 adults who reported being diagnosed with a mental health condition and currently in a romantic relationship. All survey participants were asked about their mental health history, romantic relationships, and help-seeking perceptions. Additionally, each participant was presented with one of three vignettes that contained partner messages with varying levels of challenge and support. Results showed that receiving autonomy supportive or accommodating communication increased confidence in treatment. In addition, greater levels of partner accommodation, motivation, finances, perceived treatment effectiveness, less disapproval from one’s social network, and lower perceived control over the mental health condition served as predictors of current treatment engagement. Given that numerous barriers prevent those with mental health concerns from accessing the care they need, it is important to distinguish and promote the facilitating role of partners in mental health help-seeking.

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The present study aimed to identify predictors of treatment retention in a sample of Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn (OEF/OIF/OND) veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who were referred for PTSD-focused treatment through completion of a Veterans Affairs (VA) specialty clinic introductory information session. A total of 124 returning veterans (89% male, 53% Caucasian, 40% African American, 2% Latino; average age = 37 years) participated in an introductory session intended to facilitate informed decision making about treatment selection for PTSD. To evaluate patient, therapist, and system characteristics that were associated with risk of prematurely dropping out of psychotherapy for PTSD, we used recursive partitioning or "classification tree" methods commonly used to derive actuarial models of risk for high or low scores on a particular outcome when the set of independent or predictor variables is large. Findings revealed interactions among predictors involving access to care, readiness for change, histories of traumatic brain injury, and previous PTSD treatment. Results from the exploratory recursive model indicated that participation in therapy was highest when veterans entered psychotherapy within 68 days of the information session, believed that they needed help, and had a history of traumatic brain injury, while participation was lowest when entry into treatment exceeded 68 days and belief in needing help was low. Effects associated with partitions in the recursive model were substantial, with Cohen's d statistics ranging from .60 to 1.75. Results of the present effectiveness study implicate the importance of access to care as well as motivation for treatment in the returning cohort of OEF/OIF/OND veterans seeking help for PTSD. (PsycINFO Database Record

BackgroundA series of recent articles has reported on well-designed studies examining base rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) screenings within the Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan conflict)/Operation Iraqi Freedom (Iraq conflict) (OEF/OIF) military population. Although these studies have a number of strengths, this line of research points out several key areas in need of further examination.ObjectiveMany OEF/OIF Veterans do not use available Veterans Affairs (VA) services, especially mental health care. This highlights the need to understand the differences between those who use and do not use the VA, especially as research with pre-OEF/OIF Veterans suggests that these two groups differ in significant ways. The high rates of PTSD-related concerns in non-VA users also points to a need to understand whether—and where—Veterans are seeking care outside the VA and the accessibility of evidence-based, trauma-focused treatments in the community and private sectors. Careful examination of relationship status is also paramount as little research has examined relationship status or other relationship context issues. Social support, especially from a spouse, can buffer the development of PTSD; however, relationship discord has the potential to greatly exacerbate PTSD symptomatology. Furthermore, given the additional risk factors for sexual minority Veterans to be exposed to trauma, the 2011 repeal of the US Military “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” policy, and the emergence of the VA as likely the largest health care provider for sexual minority Veterans, it will be critically important to study the trauma and mental health experiences of this group.ConclusionsStudies that examine prevalence rates of PTSD in the returning cohort contribute significantly to our understanding of the US OEF/OIF military population. Further study of PTSD in relation to demographic variables such as VA and non-VA use, relationship status, and sexual orientation will provide rich data that will enhance our ability to develop policy and practice to provide the best care to this population.