Mental Health Treatment for Older Veterans Newly Diagnosed with PTSD: A National Investigation

Smith, Noelle B.; Cook, Joan M.; Pietrzak, Robert H.; Hoff, Rani A.; Harpaz‐Rotem, Ilan

doi:10.1016/j.jagp.2015.02.001

Cited by 28 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 35 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Compared to younger Veterans (aged 18–64 years), Veterans aged 65 years and older received 12% less sessions overall and were less likely to receive an adequate dose of treatment. These findings build on previous research that has shown that greater age in Veterans with PTSD is associated with less likelihood of receiving both psychiatric medication and psychotherapy, less psychotherapy sessions, and longer waiting times for mental health care (Smith et al., ). As expected, marital status played a role in treatment engagement, with divorced Veterans using psychotherapy at higher rates and single or widowed Veterans receiving more sessions overall.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 80%

“…Recent efforts have begun to focus on understanding these barriers to care and identifying correlates of lower engagement and retention (Garcia et al., ; Harpaz‐Rotem et al., ; Hoerster et al., ; Pietrzak, Johnson, Goldstein, Malley, & Southwick, ; Schreiber & McEnany, ), but much remains unknown. Research has found that variables such as younger age or geriatric status (Harpaz‐Rotem & Rosenheck, ; Seal et al., ; Smith, Cook, Pietrzak, Hoff, & Harpaz‐Rotem, ), unemployment status, being unmarried, and having lower income are associated with lower rates of treatment utilization and engagement (DeViva, ; Harpaz‐Rotem & Rosenheck, ; Smith et al., ). Research has also demonstrated that individuals with symptoms of depression or dysphoria are more likely to engage in or remain in treatment (Palmieri et al., ; Pietrzak et al., ; Tsai et al., ).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This study therefore provides novel information about mental health treatment from the initial diagnosis of PTSD in a broad and representative Veteran sample. Based on existing research (DeViva, ; Harpaz‐Rotem & Rosenheck, ; Seal et al., ; Smith et al., ), it was expected that age and marital status would be associated with psychotherapy utilization. Consistent with previous research (Harpaz‐Rotem & Rosenheck, ; Palmieri & Fitzgerald, ; Palmieri et al., ; Pietrzak et al., ; Tsai et al., ), it was expected that Veterans with increased depressive symptomatology would be more likely to engage in and receive an adequate dose of mental health treatment.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

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

et al. 2017

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 80%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

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

et al. 2017

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…10 A handful of studies, mostly conducted among veterans, have additionally evaluated predictors of treatment utilization among those diagnosed with PTSD, finding lower treatment utilization among both Latinos and African Americans as compared to non-Latino whites, 11, 12 among those who were married or divorced/separated/widowed, 11 those who were older, 10, 13, 14 and those without a mental health comorbidity. 11, 15, 16 …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Usual Course of Treatment and Predictors of Treatment Utilization for Patients With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Nobles¹,

Valentine²,

Zepeda³

et al. 2017

J. Clin. Psychiatry

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objective Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating psychiatric illness that frequently remains undiagnosed and untreated. While extensive research has been conducted among veterans, little research has evaluated course of treatment for PTSD in a general hospital setting. Method We utilized data from the Partners Healthcare Research Patient Database Registry to evaluate mental health treatment utilization, including psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy, by patients with recently diagnosed primary PTSD following Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV criteria between January 1, 2002 and June 30, 2011. We additionally evaluated predictors of treatment utilization 6 months post-diagnosis. Results Among 2,475 patients with recently diagnosed prim ary PTSD, approximately half (55.7%) had any therapy visit and 10% at least 12 therapy visits in the 6 months following diagnosis. Approximately half (47.0%) received a psychiatric prescription, with 29.3% receiving a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), 11.8% an atypical antipsychotic and 24.4% a benzodiazepine. Latinos were 25% more likely to have an SSRI prescription, 35% more likely to have an atypical antipsychotic prescription and 28% more likely to have any psychotherapy. Men were 96% more likely to have an atypical antipsychotic prescription. Patients with Medicare were 20% less likely to have any psychotherapy, and patients with Medicaid were 35% less likely to have 12 or more therapy visits. Conclusion Many patients with a primary diagnosis of PTSD do not receive psychotherapy, and psychiatric prescriptions, including atypical antipsychotics and benzodiazepines, are common. Future research is needed to determine quality of care received and explore sub-population specific barriers limiting access to care.

show abstract

“…However, participants that suffered from such effects had higher depression scores and were treated more frequently for sleep disorders, a common comorbidity of mental health issues. The results can partly be explained by the finding that many traumatised older adults express their mental illness through somatisation (Glaesmer et al, 2012), and older adults are often neglected regarding treatment for mental illnesses (Smith, Cook, Pietrzak, Hoff, & Harpaz-Rotem, 2016).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

WWII trauma impacts physical and mental health in the oldest old: results from a German population-based study

Hauber

Zank

2021

Aging & Mental Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Introduction: Epidemiological studies in different traumatised samples indicate an increased risk for numerous physical and mental diseases. It is suspected that this is due to chronic changes in fundamental processes in the immune, nervous, and endocrine systems, which take years to manifest pathologically. Previous studies have considered intervals of a few decades. However, little is known about whether a link between trauma and physical and mental health can be established over very long periods of time and in the oldest old population. Materials and methods: A total of 1,299 German citizens aged 80 and above were interviewed about ongoing suffering from the effects of traumatic World War II (WWII) events as well as about physical and mental health. Multiple linear and logistic regression models were used to assess the impact of suffering from the effects of traumatic events on general health, several medical conditions, multimorbidity, pain, and depression. Results: 43.94% of the oldest old were still suffering from the effects of traumatic events in connection with WWII. Participants who were still suffering from the effects of traumatic events were more likely to be treated for heart failure, blood diseases, bladder problems, back pain, respiratory or lung diseases, and sleep disorders. They also had poorer general health, higher multimorbidity, more pain, and higher depression scores. Discussion: Findings suggest that chronic psychological suffering from the effects of traumatic events in early life is associated with impaired physical and mental health even seven decades after the events.

show abstract

Mental Health Treatment for Older Veterans Newly Diagnosed with PTSD: A National Investigation

Cited by 28 publications

References 35 publications

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

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

Usual Course of Treatment and Predictors of Treatment Utilization for Patients With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

WWII trauma impacts physical and mental health in the oldest old: results from a German population-based study

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About