Personality Disorder Diagnosis Among Justice-Involved Veterans: An Investigation of VA Using Veterans

J Nerv Ment Dis. 2023 May 1;211(5):402-406. doi: 10.1097/NMD.0000000000001627.

Abstract

Justice-involved veterans are more likely to experience myriad mental health sequelae. Nonetheless, examination of personality psychopathology among justice-involved veterans remains limited, with studies focused on males within correctional settings. We examined Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) electronic medical records for 1,534,108 (12.28% justice-involved) male and 127,230 (8.79% justice-involved) female veterans. Male and female veterans accessing VA justice-related services were both approximately three times more likely to have a personality disorder diagnosis relative to those with no history of using justice-related services. This effect persisted after accounting for VA use (both overall and mental health), age, race, and ethnicity. Augmenting and tailoring VA justice-related services to facilitate access to evidence-based psychotherapy for personality psychopathology may promote optimal recovery and rehabilitation among these veterans.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Criminal Law* / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Personality Disorders* / complications
  • Personality Disorders* / epidemiology
  • Personality Disorders* / psychology
  • United States / epidemiology
  • United States Department of Veterans Affairs / legislation & jurisprudence
  • United States Department of Veterans Affairs / organization & administration
  • United States Department of Veterans Affairs / statistics & numerical data
  • Veterans* / legislation & jurisprudence
  • Veterans* / psychology
  • Veterans* / statistics & numerical data