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Published Online: June 2013

Health Care Utilization Prior to Loss to Care Among Veterans With Serious Mental Illness

Kristen M. Abraham, Ph.D., Zongshan Lai, M.P.H., Nicholas W. Bowersox, Ph.D., David E. Goodrich, Ed.D., Stephanie Visnic, B.A., Jeffrey P. Burk, Ph.D., and Amy M. Kilbourne, Ph.D., M.P.H.Authors Info & Affiliations
Publication: Psychiatric Services
Volume 64, Number 6
https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ps.002382012
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Abstract

Objective

This study examined the association between utilization of Veterans Affairs (VA) health services and the probability of treatment dropout among veterans with serious mental illness.

Methods

Utilization of VA health services in the fiscal year (FY) before treatment dropout among veterans with serious mental illness who were lost to care for at least 12 months beginning in FYs 2008 or 2009 (N=6,687) was compared with utilization in FYs 2007 or 2008 among veterans with serious mental illness who remained in care (N=6,687).

Results

The veterans (mean age=54) were predominantly male (91%) and Caucasian (76%). After accounting for demographic and clinical variables, the analyses found that more primary care and mental health outpatient visits and fewer general medical and mental health hospitalizations were associated with lower odds of dropout.

Conclusions

Engagement in outpatient health care was associated with lower odds of loss to care among veterans with serious mental illness.

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Information & Authors

Information

Published In

Go to Psychiatric Services
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Cover: Sir Charles, Alias Willie Harris, by Barkley Leonnard Hendricks, 1972. Oil on canvas. William C. Whitney Foundation, 1973.19.1. National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

Psychiatric Services
Volume 64 • Number 6 • June 2013
Pages: 594 - 596
PubMed: 23728603

History

Published in print: June 2013
Published online: 15 October 2014

Authors

Details

Kristen M. Abraham, Ph.D.
All of the authors with the exception of Dr. Burk are affiliated with the Veterans Affairs (VA) National Serious Mental Illness Treatment Resource and Evaluation Center, VA Center for Clinical Management Research, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Dr. Abraham, Mr. Lai, Dr. Bowersox, Dr. Goodrich, and Dr. Kilbourne are also with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan Medical School, North Campus Research Complex, Building 16, 2800 Plymouth Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48109 (e-mail: [email protected]). Dr. Burk is with the Office of Mental Health Services, Patient Care Services, Veterans Health Administration, Washington, D.C.
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Zongshan Lai, M.P.H.
All of the authors with the exception of Dr. Burk are affiliated with the Veterans Affairs (VA) National Serious Mental Illness Treatment Resource and Evaluation Center, VA Center for Clinical Management Research, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Dr. Abraham, Mr. Lai, Dr. Bowersox, Dr. Goodrich, and Dr. Kilbourne are also with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan Medical School, North Campus Research Complex, Building 16, 2800 Plymouth Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48109 (e-mail: [email protected]). Dr. Burk is with the Office of Mental Health Services, Patient Care Services, Veterans Health Administration, Washington, D.C.
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Nicholas W. Bowersox, Ph.D.
All of the authors with the exception of Dr. Burk are affiliated with the Veterans Affairs (VA) National Serious Mental Illness Treatment Resource and Evaluation Center, VA Center for Clinical Management Research, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Dr. Abraham, Mr. Lai, Dr. Bowersox, Dr. Goodrich, and Dr. Kilbourne are also with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan Medical School, North Campus Research Complex, Building 16, 2800 Plymouth Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48109 (e-mail: [email protected]). Dr. Burk is with the Office of Mental Health Services, Patient Care Services, Veterans Health Administration, Washington, D.C.
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David E. Goodrich, Ed.D.
All of the authors with the exception of Dr. Burk are affiliated with the Veterans Affairs (VA) National Serious Mental Illness Treatment Resource and Evaluation Center, VA Center for Clinical Management Research, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Dr. Abraham, Mr. Lai, Dr. Bowersox, Dr. Goodrich, and Dr. Kilbourne are also with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan Medical School, North Campus Research Complex, Building 16, 2800 Plymouth Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48109 (e-mail: [email protected]). Dr. Burk is with the Office of Mental Health Services, Patient Care Services, Veterans Health Administration, Washington, D.C.
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Stephanie Visnic, B.A.
All of the authors with the exception of Dr. Burk are affiliated with the Veterans Affairs (VA) National Serious Mental Illness Treatment Resource and Evaluation Center, VA Center for Clinical Management Research, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Dr. Abraham, Mr. Lai, Dr. Bowersox, Dr. Goodrich, and Dr. Kilbourne are also with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan Medical School, North Campus Research Complex, Building 16, 2800 Plymouth Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48109 (e-mail: [email protected]). Dr. Burk is with the Office of Mental Health Services, Patient Care Services, Veterans Health Administration, Washington, D.C.
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Jeffrey P. Burk, Ph.D.
All of the authors with the exception of Dr. Burk are affiliated with the Veterans Affairs (VA) National Serious Mental Illness Treatment Resource and Evaluation Center, VA Center for Clinical Management Research, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Dr. Abraham, Mr. Lai, Dr. Bowersox, Dr. Goodrich, and Dr. Kilbourne are also with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan Medical School, North Campus Research Complex, Building 16, 2800 Plymouth Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48109 (e-mail: [email protected]). Dr. Burk is with the Office of Mental Health Services, Patient Care Services, Veterans Health Administration, Washington, D.C.
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Amy M. Kilbourne, Ph.D., M.P.H.
All of the authors with the exception of Dr. Burk are affiliated with the Veterans Affairs (VA) National Serious Mental Illness Treatment Resource and Evaluation Center, VA Center for Clinical Management Research, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Dr. Abraham, Mr. Lai, Dr. Bowersox, Dr. Goodrich, and Dr. Kilbourne are also with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan Medical School, North Campus Research Complex, Building 16, 2800 Plymouth Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48109 (e-mail: [email protected]). Dr. Burk is with the Office of Mental Health Services, Patient Care Services, Veterans Health Administration, Washington, D.C.
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