Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Email this article to a Colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Articles & Searches Download to citation manager Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Articles by Krein, S. L. Articles by Valenstein, M. Search for Related Content PubMed Citation Articles by Krein, S. L. Articles by Valenstein, M. Dual Diagnosis Patients Veterans Quality of Care, Practice Guidelines Service Utilization

Diabetes Treatment Among VA Patients With Comorbid Serious Mental Illness

OBJECTIVE: Patients with serious mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other psychoses, may be less likely to receive adequate care for chronic medical conditions than patients without serious mental illness. The quality and outcomes of diabetes care were compared in an observational study among patients with and without serious mental illness. METHODS: National data were studied for 36,546 individuals receiving care within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system. Widely used diabetes quality-of-care measures and intermediate outcomes were compared for patients with diabetes and serious mental illness and age-matched patients with diabetes who did not have a serious mental illness. Patients' use of health services was also examined. RESULTS: During fiscal year 1998, patients with diabetes and serious mental illness were as likely as patients with diabetes alone to have their hemoglobin A1c, low-density lipoproteins (LDL), and cholesterol measured; both groups had comparable A1c, LDL, and cholesterol values. Patients with diabetes and serious mental illness had more outpatient visits, both primary care and specialty visits, and made more multiclinic visits, including visits to both primary care and mental health services on the same day. CONCLUSIONS: In the VA, patients with diabetes and serious mental illness appear to receive diabetes care that is comparable with the care that other patients with diabetes receive, possibly because of increased levels of contact with the health system and the VA's integration of medical and mental health services.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. F. Teh, A. M. Kilbourne, J. F. McCarthy, D. Welsh, and F. C. Blow Gender Differences in Health-Related Quality of Life for Veterans With Serious Mental Illness Psychiatr Serv, June 1, 2008; 59(6): 663 - 669. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. W. Goldberg, J. A. Kreyenbuhl, D. R. Medoff, F. B. Dickerson, K. Wohlheiter, L. J. Fang, C. H. Brown, and L. B. Dixon Quality of Diabetes Care Among Adults With Serious Mental Illness Psychiatr Serv, April 1, 2007; 58(4): 536 - 543. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Get information about faster international access.

Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2006 American Psychiatric Association. All rights reserved.

Home | Search | Current Issue | Past Issues | Subscribe | All APPI Journals | Help | Contact Us