Open AccessArmy Warrior Care Project (AWCP): Rationale and methods for a longitudinal study of behavioral health care in Army Warrior Transition Units using Military Health System data, FY2008–2015
Author(s) -
Wooten Nikki R.,
Brittingham Jordan A.,
Hossain Akhtar,
Hopkins Laura A.,
Sumi Nahid S.,
Jeffery Diana D.,
Tavakoli Abbas S.,
Chakraborty Hrishikesh,
Levkoff Sue E.,
Larson Mary Jo
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
international journal of methods in psychiatric research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.275
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1557-0657
pISSN - 1049-8931
DOI - 10.1002/mpr.1788
Subject(s) - software deployment , military deployment , health care , military personnel , military health , military service , military medicine , service member , medicine , family medicine , gerontology , psychology , medical emergency , political science , engineering , software engineering , law
Objectives Warrior Transition Units (WTUs) are specialized military units co‐located with major military treatment facilities providing a Triad of Care involving primary care physicians, case managers, and military leadership to soldiers needing comprehensive medical care. We describe the rationale and methods for studying behavioral health care in WTUs and characterize soldiers assigned to WTUs. Methods The Army Warrior Care Project (AWCP) analyzes U.S. Department of Defense Military Health System data to examine behavioral health problems and service utilization among Army soldiers who were assigned to WTUs after returning from Afghanistan and Iraq deployments, FY2008–2015. Results WTU members ( N = 31,094) comprised 3.5% of the AWCP cohort ( N = 883,091). Almost all (96.5%) had one WTU assignment for a median of 327 days; 77.3% were assigned before deployment ended, ≤30 or >365 days post‐deployment; 59.4% had deployment‐related behavioral health diagnoses. Conclusions An overwhelming majority of soldiers had one WTU assignment for almost a year. A substantial proportion of WTU soldiers had psychological impairment, which limited performance of their military duties. The AWCP is the first longitudinal study of redeployed soldiers assigned to WTUs and provides a unique opportunity to advance our understanding of behavioral health among soldiers needing comprehensive medical care after combat deployments.