The Effect of Medical Comorbidities on Male and Female Veterans' Use of Psychotherapy for XXXX .

@entity1 @entity1005
BACKGROUND: @entity1005 ( @entity1005 ) is associated with an increased risk for medical comorbidities that may prevent participation in psychotherapy. The present study investigated whether medical comorbidities were associated with lower initiation rates and fewer psychotherapy visits for @entity1005 . Because @entity1 are more likely to initiate psychotherapy after traumatic events, we also assessed whether relationships were weaker among @entity1 . METHODS: Veterans (N=482, 47% @entity1 ) recently diagnosed with @entity1005 completed a survey assessing demographics, mood, functional status, and interest in treatment. Data on medical comorbidities, psychotherapy visits, antidepressant prescriptions, and service connection were assessed longitudinally through administrative files. Logistic and negative binomial regressions assessed associations between number of medical comorbidities in the 2 years before the survey and the initiation and number of psychotherapy visits for @entity1005 in the year after the survey. All analyses were stratified by sex and controlled for survey and administrative variables. RESULTS: The relationship between medical comorbidities and number of psychotherapy visits was stronger among @entity1 than among @entity1 . A greater number of medical comorbidities was associated with significantly fewer psychotherapy visits in the total sample [incidence rate ratio: 0.91; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.83, 1.00] and among @entity1 (incidence rate ratio: 0.87; 95% CI: 0.77, 0.99), but not among @entity1 (95% CI: 0.75, 1.01). Medical comorbidities were not associated with the initiation of psychotherapy among @entity1 or @entity1 . CONCLUSIONS: Addressing medical comorbidities may help individuals remain in psychotherapy for @entity1005 . Medical comorbidities may play a larger role in the number of psychotherapy visits among @entity1 than @entity1 .
