Ambulatory mental health services at a U.S. Army combat support post: the effects of the Persian Gulf War.

A study of ambulatory mental health services on a U.S. Army post where logistic support personnel are stationed compared utilization of psychiatric services before, during, and after the Persian Gulf War. Rates were calculated for service utilization for the at-risk groups from consecutive cases presenting at the post's ambulatory mental health services in the Department of Psychiatry. Our findings include a high rate of dysfunction for soldiers in training during the war; significant age, race, and sex differences between utilizers and non-utilizers throughout the study period; increased routine evaluations for military schools following the war; and significant increases in utilization of services by identified high-stress units during this conflict. Rates of utilization for a combat support post can be used for resource allocation and have implications for mental health manpower planning and stress prevention.