Health service utilization before and after evidence-based treatment for PTSD.

• DOI: 10.1037/a0030549
• Publication Date: 2012-11-13T18:57:25Z
• Authors: Peter W. Tuerk; Bethany Wangelin; Sheila A. M. Rauch; Clara E. Dismuke; Matthew Yoder; Hugh Myrick; Afsoon Eftekhari; Ron Acierno
• Keywords: Specialty

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with functional impairment, co-occurring diagnoses, and increased health care utilization. Associated high demand for services an important contributor to the large public-health cost of PTSD. Treatments incorporating exposure therapy are efficacious in ameliorating or eliminating PTSD symptoms. Accordingly, Veterans Health Administration has made significant investments toward nationwide dissemination a manualized protocol, prolonged (PE). PE effective veterans; however, relationship between mental service utilization unknown. The current study investigates as it relates actual tracked urban VA medical center. A sample 60 veterans diagnosis was used examine 12-months prior after being offered PE. Hierarchical Linear Models traditional repeated-measures ANOVA were estimate R²- d-type effect sizes estimated saving reported. reductions symptoms remission. Treatment also statistically significant, who completed treatment. Findings suggest that expanding access can increase general by decreasing ongoing specialty clinical services.