Posttraumatic stress disorder and other predictors of health care consumption by Vietnam veterans

A total of 641 randomly selected Australian veterans of the Vietnam War wer e interviewed about their use of health care in the previous two weeks to d etermine what Factors contributed to health care consumption. Seventy-three variables were examined by univariate linear regression and then grouped i nto severe categories relating to age, physical and mental health, predispo sition to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), deployment and repatriation experiences, and membership in veterans groups. PTSD was associated with a n additional cost of $79 in health care for the two-wreck period, Each phys ical diagnosis was associated with an additional $28. Alcohol consumption w as not related to health care costs. Other important variables contributing to costs were depression, educational status, the quality of the repatriat ion experience, and social support.