Citation

Rassu FS, Sansgiry S, Hundt NE, Kunik ME, Cully JA. J. Clin. Psychol. Med. Settings 2022; 29(1): 220-229.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s10880-021-09796-y

PMID

34156589

Abstract

Providers in non-traditional mental health settings (e.g., primary care, community medical clinics) face challenges involving patients who often present with multiple mental health conditions, but require rapid assessment and treatment. To help address this challenge, this study characterized differences in health symptom severity and mental health treatment perceptions between depressed Veterans with and without posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) served in community medical clinics. Relative to depressed Veterans without PTSD (N = 62), depressed Veterans with PTSD (N = 122) endorsed greater depression, suicidal ideation, anxiety, pain, and insomnia symptoms, as well as lower functioning. Veterans with depression and PTSD also reported greater mental health needs, prior utilization of mental health services, and higher perceived importance of mental health treatment.

RESULTS highlight the complexity of comorbid mental health conditions frequently seen in community medical care clinics and suggest that patients with comorbid mental health difficulties may present with a complex array of mental health symptoms.

Language: en

Keywords

Humans; Depression; PTSD; Suicidal Ideation; Veterans; Mental Health Services; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Community medical care; Mental health treatment perceptions