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The Counseling psychologist
May, 2022;50 (4): 506-535.

Postdeployment Treatment Gap: Symptoms and Treatment Utilization Among Returning National Guard Soldiers.

Simon B Goldberg, Anthony W P Flynn, Maleeha Abbas, Megan E Schultz, Michele Hiserodt, Kathryn A Thomas, Kasey Kallio, Mary F Wyman
Author Information
  1. Simon B Goldberg: University of Wisconsin-Madison.
  2. Anthony W P Flynn: University of Wisconsin-Madison.
  3. Maleeha Abbas: VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle Division.
  4. Megan E Schultz: William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital.
  5. Michele Hiserodt: William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital.
  6. Kathryn A Thomas: University of Wisconsin-Madison.
  7. Kasey Kallio: William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital.
  8. Mary F Wyman: William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital.
PMID: 35936651 DOI: 10.1177/00110000221074019

Abstract

This study evaluated rates of psychiatric symptoms and mental health treatment utilization among National Guard service members during the post-deployment period. National Guard service members (=311) completed surveys assessing demographics, beliefs about mental health treatment, emotion regulation strategies, and psychiatric symptoms. Mental health treatment utilization was assessed at 6-month follow-up. Post-deployment, 41.2% of the sample had psychiatric symptoms above the clinical cut-off for at least one symptom measure. This proportion increased at follow-up (53.5%). Alcohol use disorder (AUD) symptoms showed the largest increase (=0.66), although symptoms of depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) also showed small magnitude increases. Among those with elevated symptoms post-deployment (=128), only 27.8% received mental health treatment at follow-up. Severity of depression, anxiety, and PTSD were higher among those who utilized treatment. The post-deployment period is a vulnerable one. Continued efforts to understand and address barriers to treatment for this population are warranted.

Keywords

mental health treatment military veterans post-deployment treatment utilization

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Grants

  1. K23 AT010879/NCCIH NIH HHS
Journal Article

Word Cloud

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