Ms. Bauer et al., PREDICTORS OF SERVICE UTILIZATION IN VETERANS WITH BIPOLAR DISORDER -A PROSPECTIVE-STUDY, Journal of affective disorders, 44(2-3), 1997, pp. 159-168
This study prospectively followed 103 bipolar patients enrolled in a V
A treatment program for I year. Mental health service utilization was
recorded and aggregated using the VA Cost Distribution Report. We hypo
thesized that previously reported predictors of disease severity would
also predict service utilization, and that several other predictors o
f service utilization might also be identified. Analyses indicated tha
t only the presence of a major affective episode at clinic intake and
a recalled history of childhood physical abuse predicted mental health
service utilization. Contrary to expectations, previously reported pr
edictors of disease severity were not significant predictors. Implicat
ions for the study of economic outcome are discussed. In particular, w
e propose that economic outcome is a complex function of both patient
and system factors, rather than simply being passively driven by disea
se severity. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.