@article{ref1,
title="Swept away: use of general medical and mental health services among veterans displaced by hurricane Katrina",
journal="American journal of psychiatry",
year="2007",
author="Druss, Benjamin G. and Henderson, Kathy L. and Rosenheck, Robert Alan",
volume="164",
number="1",
pages="154-156",
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.   <p></p>  <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0002-953X",
doi="10.1176/appi.ajp.164.1.154",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.164.1.154"
}