Citation

Druss BG, Henderson KL, Rosenheck RA. Am. J. Psychiatry 2007; 164(1): 154-156.

Affiliation

Emory University, Rollins School of Public Health, 1518 Clifton Rd., Atlanta, GA 30322. bdruss@emory.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, American Psychiatric Association)

DOI

10.1176/appi.ajp.164.1.154

PMID

17202558

PMCID

PMC1868551

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: This study examined national patterns of outpatient service use by veterans from regions affected by Hurricane Katrina. Methods: Analyses tracked use of general medical and mental/substance use services in September and October through December 2005 in New Orleans and Biloxi-Gulfport compared to a cohort receiving care during the same months in the previous 2 years. RESULTS: In adjusted models, veterans from New Orleans and Biloxi-Gulfport were, respectively, 73% and 41% less likely in September 2005 to use any outpatient services as were cohorts from 2003-2004. Particularly in New Orleans, the relative decline in service use was substantially greater for specialty mental health and substance use services than for general medical services. CONCLUSIONS: Although many veterans were able to obtain care after Hurricane Katrina, there was a substantial disruption in delivery of Veterans Administration services, with disproportionate declines in mental health and substance use care.

Language: en