Do Vietnam-era veterans who suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder avoid VA mental health services?

It has been suggested that Vietnam veterans who suffer from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) avoid Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health services because their experiences in the military engendered a profound distrust of the Federal Government and its institutions. Data from a national survey of 1,676 veterans who served during the Vietnam era show that veterans with PTSD were 9.6 times more likely than other veterans to have used VA mental health services; but only 3.3 times more likely to have used non-VA services. After controlling for other factors, veterans suffering from PTSD were 1.8 times more likely than other veterans to have used VA services, but were no more likely to have used non-VA services. Contrary to conventional belief, veterans with PTSD show a preference for VA compared to non-VA mental health services.