TY - JOUR
T1 - Racial Disparities in Clinical Outcomes of Veterans Affairs Residential PTSD Treatment Between Black and White Veterans
AU - Gross, Georgina M.
AU - Smith, Noelle
AU - Holliday, Ryan
AU - Rozek, David C.
AU - Hoff, Rani
AU - Harpaz-Rotem, Ilan
PY - 2022/2/1
Y1 - 2022/2/1
N2 - OBJECTIVE: Racial disparities across various domains of health care are a long-standing public health issue that affect a variety of clinical services and health outcomes. Mental health research has shown that prevalence rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are high for Black veterans compared with White veterans, and some studies suggest poorer clinical outcomes for Black veterans with PTSD. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of racial disparities longitudinally in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) residential rehabilitation treatment programs (RRTPs). METHODS: Participants included 2,870 veterans treated nationally in VA PTSD RRTPs in fiscal year 2017. Veterans provided demographic data upon admission to the program. Symptoms of PTSD and depression were collected at admission, discharge, and 4-month follow-up. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to examine symptom change throughout and after treatment. RESULTS: Black veterans experienced attenuated PTSD symptom reduction during treatment as well as greater depression symptom recurrence 4 months after discharge, relative to White veterans. CONCLUSIONS: This study adds to the body of literature that has documented poorer treatment outcomes for Black compared with White veterans with PTSD. Although both Black and White veterans had an overall reduction in symptoms, future research should focus on understanding the causes, mechanisms, and potential solutions to reduce racial disparities in mental health treatment.
AB - OBJECTIVE: Racial disparities across various domains of health care are a long-standing public health issue that affect a variety of clinical services and health outcomes. Mental health research has shown that prevalence rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are high for Black veterans compared with White veterans, and some studies suggest poorer clinical outcomes for Black veterans with PTSD. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of racial disparities longitudinally in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) residential rehabilitation treatment programs (RRTPs). METHODS: Participants included 2,870 veterans treated nationally in VA PTSD RRTPs in fiscal year 2017. Veterans provided demographic data upon admission to the program. Symptoms of PTSD and depression were collected at admission, discharge, and 4-month follow-up. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to examine symptom change throughout and after treatment. RESULTS: Black veterans experienced attenuated PTSD symptom reduction during treatment as well as greater depression symptom recurrence 4 months after discharge, relative to White veterans. CONCLUSIONS: This study adds to the body of literature that has documented poorer treatment outcomes for Black compared with White veterans with PTSD. Although both Black and White veterans had an overall reduction in symptoms, future research should focus on understanding the causes, mechanisms, and potential solutions to reduce racial disparities in mental health treatment.
KW - depression
KW - mental health systems/hospitals
KW - Posttraumatic stress disorder
KW - racial-ethnic disparities
KW - veterans issues
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85123969619&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85123969619&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1176/appi.ps.202000783
DO - 10.1176/appi.ps.202000783
M3 - Article
C2 - 34369806
AN - SCOPUS:85123969619
SN - 1075-2730
VL - 73
SP - 126
EP - 132
JO - Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.)
JF - Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.)
IS - 2
ER -