Prevalence of Mental Health Problems, Treatment Need, and Barriers to Care among Primary Care-Seeking Spouses of Military Service Members Involved in Iraq and Afghanistan Deployments

Army spouses answered questions about their mental health (e.g., anxiety and depression), as well as rates of mental health care utilization and barriers to seeking care. Data showed that Army spouses met Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders fourth edition (DSM-IV) criteria for depression and anxiety. Of those seeking treatment, most went to civilian specialty care providers, though a large proportion of the sample was exclusively treated by the on-installation primary care physician.