59 veterans requesting treatment at the Denver V.A. Mental Hygiene Clinic and 57 eligible veterans never requesting such treatment were given a symptom inventory in order to discern possible distinguishing symptom patterns between the groups. Four hypotheses were tested; one confirmed. The results indicated that “comers” claimed over-all greater symptomatology, especially in the areas of sensitivity and suspiciousness, “troublesome psychopathy” or impulse control, and nervousness and anxiety. There were no significant differences between the groups in claimed psychological or claimed physical symptoms. Years of education was unrelated to incidence of claimed psychological symptomatology.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
DienerR. G.YoungH. H.Factors contributing to requests for Mental Hygiene Clinic treatment by veterans with psychiatric disorders. J. clin. Psychol., 1961, 17, 397–399.
2.
DworinJ.GreenJ. A.YoungH. H.A follow-up study of relationships between distance from the clinic, degree of disability and requests for psychiatric treatment. J. clin. Psychol., 1964, 20, 393–395.
3.
HollingsheadA. B.RedlichF. C.Social class and mental illness. New York: Wiley, 1958.
4.
Joint Commission on Mental Illness and Health. Action for mental health. New York: Basic Books, 1961.
5.
KennedyJ. F.Message from the President of the United States relative to mental illness and mental retardation. February 5, 1963, 88th Congress, Document No. 58.
6.
MyersJ. K.RobertsB. H.Family and class dynamics in mental illness. New York: Wiley, 1959.
7.
WeiderA.WolffH. G.BrodmanK.MittelmannB.WechslerD.Manual for the Cornell Index. (Rev. ed.) New York: Psychological Corp., 1949.
8.
YoungH. H.DickeyB.SmithR. W.A comparison of role expectations, motivations, and needs of veterans in psychotherapy versus veterans never requesting psychotherapy. Research in V. A., Outpatient Psychiatry, 1963, 7, 5–9.
