Predictors of Disability Discharge Disposition for Navy Personnel with a Mental Health Problem

Abstract

This study examined the extent to which severity of mental health diagnosis and length of military service predict medical discharge disposition for Navy personnel (N = 1,450). Results corroborated the findings of a similar study related to back problems in which both severity and length of service were significant predictors. Examination of consistency of mental health diagnoses from time of hospitalization to last Physical Evaluation (PE) Board determination revealed that nonpsychotic primary diagnoses were likely to shift to psychotic diagnoses by the time of last PE Board determination. Last, the contribution of entitlement costs to the total costs of medical care are discussed.