Mental illnesses rank first among the conditions that cause disability in the United States. And among mental illnesses, serious mental illnesses (SMI)1—including major depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and borderline personality disorder—carry an additional impact. Many studies have shown that individuals with SMI show higher rates of acute and chronic illnesses, lower quality general medical care, worse long-term outcomes, and shorter life expectancy than the general population.2 The cost to individuals and society in economic terms is also significant—according to a 2008 study, SMI costs in lost earnings were almost $193 billion.3According to VA data for 2009, of more than 5.3 million people treated in VA facilities, 895,875 (17%)4 were diagnosed with depression. Further, the overall population of Veterans diagnosed with psychosis in the VA increased from 228,356 in 2008 to 234,674 in 2009.5 Many Veterans with SMI also have co-occurring conditions, ranging from homelessness to addiction to chronic disease, which can make it harder to effectively treat the underlying SMI. read more>>>
No comments:
Post a Comment