Predicting Functional versus Organic Psychotic Diagnoses of Hospitalized Navy Personnel
Abstract
Psychotic disorders, while fewer in number than nonpsychotic disorders among active duty, enlisted Navy personnel, are relatively costly to the U.S. Navy. An important question is whether psychotic disorders are in some sense predictable. If so, which enlisted individuals in the U.S. Navy are at greater risk to experience a psychotic breakdown and to be subsequently hospitalized? The answers to these questions could provide both considerable cost savings and immeasurable savings in human suffering. The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between type of psychotic diagnosis at time of hospitalization, pre-Navy psychotic condition, and paygrade for active duty, enlisted Navy personnel. Results indicated that functional psychoses were more prevalent than organic psychoses and more likely associated with a pre-Navy psychotic condition and lower paygrade levels. This was most true of schizophrenia. There was a decreasing trend across paygrades for functional psychoses in general and schizophrenic disorders in particular to be associated with a pre-Navy psychotic condition. Active duty, enlisted Navy personnel with a pre-Navy history of some functional psychotic disorder are at risk of being hospitalized for that problem after they joint the Navy. Distinguishing between process versus reactive psychosis at time of recruitment and at time of hospitalization within the U.S. Navy could provide substantial savings to the U. S. Navy.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 08, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA204014
Entities
People
- Brock Kilbourne
- Jerry Goodman
- Susan Hilton
Organizations
- Naval Health Research Center