Display Settings:

Format

Send to:

Choose Destination

    Am J Psychiatry. 2007 Jan;164(1):154-6.

    Swept away: use of general medical and mental health services among veterans displaced by Hurricane Katrina.

    Druss BG, Henderson KL, Rosenheck RA.

    Atlanta VA Medical Center, VA Health System, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. bdruss@emory.edu

    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.

    PMID: 17202558 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

    PMCID: 1868551

    Supplemental Content

    Click here to read Click here to read Click here to read Click here to read