Citation

Meyers LL, Landes SJ, Thuras P. Mil. Med. 2014; 179(11): 1368-1373.

Affiliation

Minneapolis VA Health Care System, University of Minnesota Medical School, One Veterans Drive (116A), Minneapolis, MN 55417.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Association of Military Surgeons of the United States)

DOI

10.7205/MILMED-D-14-00248

PMID

25373068

Abstract

CONTEXT: Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) is an evidence-based therapy developed for the treatment of suicidal behaviors and disorders characterized by emotional and behavioral dyscontrol that is effective in veteran populations. The impact of DBT on veterans' Veterans Affairs (VA) service utilization and cost is unknown. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: This study evaluated the impact of DBT in a VA outpatient mental health setting on VA service utilization and cost of services. Veterans treated for symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder, who had completed at least 6 months of the DBT program were sampled (N = 41). Use of physical and mental health services during the years prior and following DBT was assessed using medical record information.

RESULTS: There was a significant decrease in mental health service utilization. Psychiatric hospitalization dropped in half, and for those with a hospitalization, length of stay decreased significantly. Direct costs associated with all health care were significantly reduced.

CONCLUSION: Changes in service utilization resulted in a significant reduction in direct costs of providing care to veterans with symptoms of Borderline Personality Disorder. Additional research is needed to compare the reduction in overall costs to the cost of implementing DBT and to compare these changes to a control group.

Language: en