Poorer physical health is associated with greater mental health service utilization in a sample of depressed U.S. Army National Guard soldiers

ABSTRACTObjective: Operation Iraqi Freedom/Operation Enduring Freedom service members returning from deployment suffer from high rates of depression and report low levels of physical functioning compared to age-adjusted norms. Treatment for depression may be limited in this group and there are few data on whether Veterans receive medication treatment versus psychotherapy. We assessed rates of depression, physical functioning, and treatment with either medication or psychotherapy among recently returning service members. Methods: Study participants were recruited from National Guard soldiers in a Midwestern state (n = 1,448). Logistic regression modeling was used to examine associations between physical health and odds of receiving different types of mental health treatment for depressed individuals (n = 299). Results: 21% of soldiers reported significant depression and 44% of depressed service members reported poor physical health. Poorer physical health was associated with increased odds of any treatment...