Murdoch Maureen, van Ryn Michelle, Hodges James, Cowper Diane
Minneapolis VAMC/Center for Chronic Disease Outcomes Research and Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota School of Medicine, One Veterans Drive (111-0), Minneapolis, MN 55417, USA.
Mil Med. 2005 Feb;170(2):137-40.
The goal was to assess the impact of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability benefits for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on veterans' odds of poverty. Women and African American veterans were of special interest, because they are less likely than other groups to receive PTSD disability benefits.
A cross-sectional survey of 4,918 veterans who applied for VA disability benefits for PTSD between 1994 and 1998 was performed. Responses were linked to administrative data.
Overall, 42% reported low income (defined as household income less than or equal to 20,000 dollars per year). Men's and women's odds of reporting poverty were similar, but receipt of PTSD disability benefits mediated African American veterans' odds of poverty. Veterans' odds of impoverishment were reduced considerably if they received VA PTSD disability benefits and identified themselves as disabled.
VA disability benefits for PTSD reduced odds of impoverishment for psychiatrically ill veterans. This effect appeared to be especially important for African American veterans and for veterans self-identifying as disabled.
评估退伍军人事务部（VA）针对创伤后应激障碍（PTSD）发放的残疾福利对退伍军人陷入贫困几率的影响。女性退伍军人和非裔美国退伍军人是特别关注的对象，因为他们比其他群体获得PTSD残疾福利的可能性更小。
对1994年至1998年间申请VA PTSD残疾福利的4918名退伍军人进行了横断面调查。调查回复与行政数据相关联。
总体而言，42%的人报告收入较低（定义为家庭年收入低于或等于20000美元）。男性和女性报告贫困的几率相似，但获得PTSD残疾福利对非裔美国退伍军人陷入贫困的几率有调节作用。如果退伍军人获得VA PTSD残疾福利并认定自己为残疾，则其陷入贫困的几率会大幅降低。
VA针对PTSD发放的残疾福利降低了患有精神疾病的退伍军人陷入贫困的几率。这一效应对于非裔美国退伍军人以及认定自己为残疾的退伍军人似乎尤为重要。
