Pilot data of a brief veteran peer intervention and its relationship to mental health treatment engagement

Psychol Serv. 2018 Nov;15(4):453-456. doi: 10.1037/ser0000151. Epub 2017 May 11.

Abstract

Underutilization of mental health care is a significant problem among veterans. Offering peer support may improve mental health care engagement. This observational pilot study was conducted using an institutional review board-approved data repository to preliminarily evaluate the association and potential impact of a clinic-based veteran peer outreach strategy on treatment engagement and dropout. Veteran peer outreach coordinators (VPOCs) provided systematic contact (a) within 1 week after clinical evaluation and (b) 1 month after the patient's first treatment session to patients entering treatment at a specialty mental health clinic that provides military-informed mental health care to post-9/11 veterans and service members. Individuals were 102 consecutive Operation Enduring Freedom/Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation New Dawn veteran psychotherapy referrals seen at an outpatient clinic. At 6 months, participants who received both contacts from VPOC had more psychotherapy sessions (M = 10.85, SD = 8.25) compared with those who had received no contact (M = 5.47, SD = 6.41) from VPOCs, t = 2.56, p < .05. The dropout rate was also significantly lower for those who received both peer outreach contacts (17.39%) compared with those who received only 1 VPOC contact (51.11%) or no VPOC contact (43.75%), χ2 = 7.27, p < .05. Veteran peer outreach may be associated with better engagement in mental health treatment and lower dropout. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

Publication types

  • Observational Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Ambulatory Care / statistics & numerical data
  • Behavior Therapy / statistics & numerical data*
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / therapy*
  • Mental Health Services / statistics & numerical data*
  • Patient Acceptance of Health Care / statistics & numerical data*
  • Patient Satisfaction / statistics & numerical data*
  • Peer Group*
  • Pilot Projects
  • Veterans / statistics & numerical data*