The influence of patient, provider, and system level characteristics on anxiety diagnostic specificity in the Veterans Health Administration

• DOI: 10.1016/j.psycom.2024.100184
• Publication Date: 2024-07-11T22:57:45Z
• Authors: Allie N. Townsend; Israel C. Christie; Shubhada Sansgiry; Natalie E. Hundt; Matthew Escamilla; Hardeep Singh; Mark E. Kunik; Melinda A. Stanley; Terri L. Fletcher
• Keywords: Psychiatry; Anxiety disorder; Diagnosis; Retrospective; RC435-571; Diagnostic error; Veterans

This retrospective study sought to identify patient-, provider-, and system-level characteristics associated with anxiety diagnostic specificity in mental health clinics the Veterans Health Administration. It used administrative data extracted from Veteran Administration outpatient records patients a new or trauma-related diagnosis fiscal year 2019 (N = 383,418). Logistic regression was model probability of receiving an unspecified as function characteristics. Unspecified disorder diagnosed 27% sample, higher rates primary care integration (42.6%) than general (22.4%). Patient demographic clinical including gender comorbid diagnoses; provider type; use screening instrument; facility size, complexity, location were significant predictors diagnosis. Anxiety is complex process influenced by multiple Additional assessment tools guidance for differential are needed support providers busy settings facilitate accurate timely disorders.