Nikki R Wooten1, Jordan A Brittingham2, Akhtar Hossain2, Laura A Hopkins3, Nahid S Sumi2, Diana D Jeffery4, Abbas S Tavakoli5, Hrishikesh Chakraborty6, Sue E Levkoff1, Mary Jo Larson7. 1. College of Social Work, Hamilton College, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina. 2. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina. 3. Kennell and Associates, Incorporated, Falls Church, Virginia. 4. Clinical Services Division, Defense Health Agency, U. S. Department of Defense, Falls Church, Virginia. 5. College of Nursing, University of South Carolina, Columbia, South Carolina. 6. Duke Clinical Research Center and Center for AIDS Research, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina. 7. Institute of Behavioral Health, Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Warrior Transition Units (WTUs) are specialized military units co-located with major military treatment facilities providing a Triad of Care involving primary care physicians, case managers, and military leadership to soldiers needing comprehensive medical care. We describe the rationale and methods for studying behavioral health care in WTUs and characterize soldiers assigned to WTUs. METHODS: The Army Warrior Care Project (AWCP) analyzes U.S. Department of Defense Military Health System data to examine behavioral health problems and service utilization among Army soldiers who were assigned to WTUs after returning from Afghanistan and Iraq deployments, FY2008-2015. RESULTS: WTU members (N = 31,094) comprised 3.5% of the AWCP cohort (N = 883,091). Almost all (96.5%) had one WTU assignment for a median of 327 days; 77.3% were assigned before deployment ended, ≤30 or >365 days post-deployment; 59.4% had deployment-related behavioral health diagnoses. CONCLUSIONS: An overwhelming majority of soldiers had one WTU assignment for almost a year. A substantial proportion of WTU soldiers had psychological impairment, which limited performance of their military duties. The AWCP is the first longitudinal study of redeployed soldiers assigned to WTUs and provides a unique opportunity to advance our understanding of behavioral health among soldiers needing comprehensive medical care after combat deployments.
OBJECTIVES: Warrior Transition Units (WTUs) are specialized military units co-located with major military treatment facilities providing a Triad of Care involving primary care physicians, case managers, and military leadership to soldiers needing comprehensive medical care. We describe the rationale and methods for studying behavioral health care in WTUs and characterize soldiers assigned to WTUs. METHODS: The Army Warrior Care Project (AWCP) analyzes U.S. Department of Defense Military Health System data to examine behavioral health problems and service utilization among Army soldiers who were assigned to WTUs after returning from Afghanistan and Iraq deployments, FY2008-2015. RESULTS: WTU members (N = 31,094) comprised 3.5% of the AWCP cohort (N = 883,091). Almost all (96.5%) had one WTU assignment for a median of 327 days; 77.3% were assigned before deployment ended, ≤30 or >365 days post-deployment; 59.4% had deployment-related behavioral health diagnoses. CONCLUSIONS: An overwhelming majority of soldiers had one WTU assignment for almost a year. A substantial proportion of WTU soldiers had psychological impairment, which limited performance of their military duties. The AWCP is the first longitudinal study of redeployed soldiers assigned to WTUs and provides a unique opportunity to advance our understanding of behavioral health among soldiers needing comprehensive medical care after combat deployments.
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Authors: Nikki R Wooten; Jordan A Brittingham; Akhtar Hossain; Laura A Hopkins; Nahid S Sumi; Diana D Jeffery; Abbas S Tavakoli; Hrishikesh Chakraborty; Sue E Levkoff; Mary Jo Larson Journal: Int J Methods Psychiatr Res Date: 2019-08-02 Impact factor: 4.035