Jason I Chen1,2, Elizabeth R Hooker3, Meike Niederhausen3,4, Heather E Marsh3, Somnath Saha3,5, Steven K Dobscha3,6, Alan R Teo3,6. 1. Center to Improve Veteran Involvement in Care (CIVIC), VA Portland Health Care System, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), 3710 SW U.S. Veterans Hospital Road, R&D 66, Portland, OR, 97239, USA. Jason.Chen1@va.gov. 2. Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA. Jason.Chen1@va.gov. 3. Center to Improve Veteran Involvement in Care (CIVIC), VA Portland Health Care System, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), 3710 SW U.S. Veterans Hospital Road, R&D 66, Portland, OR, 97239, USA. 4. Oregon Health and Science University-Portland State University School of Public Health, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA. 5. Department of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA. 6. Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Our study explored whether aspects of veterans' social connectedness (social support, interpersonal conflict, loneliness, social norms, number of confidants) are associated with change in their depression symptoms and health services utilization over 1 year. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, longitudinal study of 262 military veterans who obtained primary care and other services at a Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facility and screened positive for depression. Participants completed surveys at baseline and 12-month follow-up. We measured social connectedness variables using the NIH Toolbox Adult Social Relationship Scales. We used the Patient Health Questionnaire to assess depression symptoms and suicidal ideation and administrative medical record data for health services utilization. We calculated change scores to model outcomes over time using multivariable regressions. RESULTS: We found that higher levels of baseline loneliness were associated with decreased depression severity over 1 year (B = - 1.55, 95% CI [- 2.53, - .56], p < .01). We found a similar association for suicidal ideation. In contrast, higher baseline number of confidants was associated with increased depression (B = .55, 95% CI [.18, .92], p < .01). Higher levels of emotional support were associated with decreased mental health visits (B = - 3.88, 95% CI [- 6.80, - .96], p < .01). No significant associations were found between social connectedness variables and primary care visits. CONCLUSIONS: Emotional support may play an important role in reducing mental health treatment utilization among VHA-using veterans. Additional investigation as to how and why loneliness and number of confidants might be paradoxically associated with depression symptoms remains necessary.
PURPOSE: Our study explored whether aspects of veterans' social connectedness (social support, interpersonal conflict, loneliness, social norms, number of confidants) are associated with change in their depression symptoms and health services utilization over 1 year. METHODS: We conducted a prospective, longitudinal study of 262 military veterans who obtained primary care and other services at a Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facility and screened positive for depression. Participants completed surveys at baseline and 12-month follow-up. We measured social connectedness variables using the NIH Toolbox Adult Social Relationship Scales. We used the Patient Health Questionnaire to assess depression symptoms and suicidal ideation and administrative medical record data for health services utilization. We calculated change scores to model outcomes over time using multivariable regressions. RESULTS: We found that higher levels of baseline loneliness were associated with decreased depression severity over 1 year (B = - 1.55, 95% CI [- 2.53, - .56], p < .01). We found a similar association for suicidal ideation. In contrast, higher baseline number of confidants was associated with increased depression (B = .55, 95% CI [.18, .92], p < .01). Higher levels of emotional support were associated with decreased mental health visits (B = - 3.88, 95% CI [- 6.80, - .96], p < .01). No significant associations were found between social connectedness variables and primary care visits. CONCLUSIONS: Emotional support may play an important role in reducing mental health treatment utilization among VHA-using veterans. Additional investigation as to how and why loneliness and number of confidants might be paradoxically associated with depression symptoms remains necessary.
Entities:
Keywords:
Health services; Major depression; Social support; Suicide; Veterans
Authors: Michele R Spoont; David B Nelson; Maureen Murdoch; Thomas Rector; Nina A Sayer; Sean Nugent; Joseph Westermeyer Journal: Psychiatr Serv Date: 2014-05-01 Impact factor: 3.084
Authors: Jay A Gorman; Elizabeth S Chamberlin; Brian J Stevenson; Rachelle Calixte; Donna M Crossman; Meghan E Ahern; Jessica Mack; Anthony Russo; Edward J Federman Journal: Community Ment Health J Date: 2022-05-07