Identifying trajectories of change to improve understanding of integrated health care outcomes on PTSD symptoms post disaster.

INTRODUCTION: Addressing life stressors is an important function for integrated care, especially for health care homes located in disaster prone environments. This study evaluated trajectories of change for patients with postdisaster posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) who were seen in integrated care. In addition to describing the results, this article provides the methods of subgroup analyses as this may be useful for others working in real-world practice.

METHOD: Patients (N = 340) receiving services at 5 rural health clinics self-reported PTSD symptoms as part of an ongoing evaluation to study the effectiveness of integrated health. Analysis of variance was used to assess differences overtime and trajectories were identified with cluster analyses. Disaster and trauma related factors associated with these trajectories were assessed using logistic regression.

RESULTS: Significant overall decreases in PTSD symptoms overtime were found; individual trajectories were identified and include stable low, steep declines, stable high symptoms, and increasing symptoms. Stress related to disaster and the number of other traumas patients experienced correctly classified trajectory membership.

DISCUSSION: Trajectories indicate that patients have differing treatment needs and cluster analysis as an evaluation technique may be useful in identifying what treatment works and for whom. The present study addresses a major concern for health care providers serving disaster prone communities and emphasizes the importance of identifying pre incident and disaster related risk vulnerabilities that contribute to mental health outcomes. Subgroup analyses are a useful tool for developing more targeted treatment within integrated care and may be an accessible research strategy for others working in such settings. (PsycINFO Database Record