Predictors of Mental Health and Medical Service Use in Veterans Presenting With Combat-Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Predictors of health service use were assessed using archival data of 87 male combat veterans with combat posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) at an outpatient Veterans Affairs Medical Center PTSD clinic. Predictor variables included predisposing demographic, illness/need, and enabling resource variables. Criterion variables included indexes of health service use. Results revealed no significant predictors of PTSD-related or primary care health service consumption. Lower scores on measures of symptom overreporting and anxiety predicted specialty care service use. Race (Caucasian) and marital status (currently married) predicted prescription of psychiatric medications. Clinical implications are considered, with a focus on the impact of racial group status as well as symptom exaggeration on health service utilization in PTSD patients.