The utility and feasibility of data extraction in patient case registers to identify treatment pathways for veterans who access secondary mental health care services: a feasibility study

Estimates of the veteran population range from three to five million. Some veterans may experience physical and mental health problems, resulting from their experiences in the line of duty. The majority do not seek formal medical help for their problems. Of the veterans who do seek help from secondary mental health care services, limited information is available on their treatment pathway. The current study will examine the utility and feasibility of extracting patient data from two different case registers, which include data on veterans and non-veterans who access secondary mental health care services. Data extracted from the South London and Maudsley (SLAM) BRC case register and the Combat Stress case register will be used to explore type of mental health problems veterans present with, their treatment pathway, their socio-demographic profile and how this compares to non-veterans who access the same services or veterans who access specific veteran’s mental health care services.