TABLE 5.
Mental Health Status by History of VA Service Use (N =700)
| Study Variable | Total % (N) | Ever Used VA% (N) | Never Used VA% (N) | χ2 (p Value) | Currently Using VA% (N) | Not Currently Using VA% (N) | χ2 (p Value) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lifetime PTSD | 9.6 (67) | 11.6 (41) | 7.5 (26) | (0.067) | 11.0 (31) | 8.6 (36) | (0.306) |
| Current PTSD | 6.7 (47) | 7.9 (28) | 5.5 (19) | (0.201) | 8.1 (23) | 5.8 (24) | (0.219) |
| Current alcohol dependence | 12.4 (87) | 13.8 (49) | 11.0 (38) | (0.252) | 12.7 (36) | 12.2 (51) | (0.847) |
| Current heavy alcohol use | 11.9 (83) | 11.6 (41) | 12.1 (42) | (0.820) | 9.5 (27) | 13.4 (56) | (0.118) |
| Lifetime depression | 18.4 (129) | 19.2 (68) | 17.6 (61) | (0.590) | 20.5 (58) | 17.0 (71) | (0.245) |
| Current depression | 6.2 (44) | 6.8 (24) | 5.8 (20) | (0.585) | 7.4 (21) | 5.5 (23) | (0.308) |
| Ever mental health counseling | 50.1 (351) | 55.1 (195) | 45.1 (156) | (0.008) | 56.9 (161) | 45.6 (190) | (0.003) |
| Current mental health counseling | 21.9 (153) | 26.3 (93) | 17.3 (60) | (0.004) | 29.3 (83) | 16.8 (70) | (< 0.001) |
| High combat exposure | 21.1 (148) | 64.2 (95) | 35.8 (53) | (< 0.001) | 56.1 (83) | 43.9 (65) | (< 0.001) |
Note. PTSD = post-traumatic stress disorder; VA = Veterans Affairs.