• Ecker AH, O'Leary K, Fletcher TL, Hundt NE, York-Ward KM, Kauth MR, Kunik ME, Cully JA. Training and supporting mental health providers to implement evidence-based psychotherapies in frontline practice. Translational behavioral medicine. 2022 Jan 18; 12(1).
• Kantaria T, Talag G, Fan J, Navarro F, Sonza P, Fears S, Yang C, Balsam J, Birman S, Lam M, Guze B, Raja P. Bridging the Acute-to-Outpatient Care Gap in Mental Health: Developing and Implementing a Mental Health Transition Process. Journal of nursing care quality. 2022 Jan 4.
• Miller CJ, Sullivan JL, Harvey KLL, Williamson AK, Stadnick NA. Promoting high-functioning mental health treatment teams in the context of low staffing ratios. Health care management review. 2022 Jan 1; 47(1):12-20.
• Kosteniuk B, Salvalaggio G, Wild TC, Gelberg L, Hyshka E. Perceived unmet substance use and mental health care needs of acute care patients who use drugs: A cross-sectional analysis using the Behavioral Model for Vulnerable Populations. Drug and Alcohol Review. 2021 Dec 2.
• McGuire AB, Flanagan ME, Kukla M, Rollins AL, Myers LJ, Bass E, Garabrant JM, Salyers MP. Inpatient Mental Healthcare before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland). 2021 Nov 23; 9(12).

» View more Citations

• Significant Number of Veterans with Depression May Not Be Receiving their Preferred Treatment
  This study examined whether treatment preferences predict types of depression treatment received and adherence to those treatments. Findings showed that mismatches between treatment preferences and type received were common and associated with worse treatment adherence for psychotherapy: 32% of VA patients who preferred medication and 22% of VA patients who preferred psychotherapy did not receive ...
  
  Date: October 6, 2021
• High Acute Inpatient Psychiatric Bed Occupancy Associated with Increased Rates of Suicide among Veterans
  This study examined the relationship between the incidence of suicide among Veterans and acute inpatient psychiatric bed availability using occupancy as a measure of hospital strain and access. Findings showed that high acute VA psychiatric bed occupancy (>95%), not beds per capita, was associated with a 10% higher incidence of death by suicide. Extrapolated over the 6-year study across 145 hospit...
  
  Date: August 16, 2021
• Fewer than Two-Thirds of Veterans Receive Timely Lung Cancer Screening Follow-Up
  This retrospective cohort study sought to determine adherence to recommended next steps (i.e., annual screening or evaluation of screen-detected findings) in a national cohort of Veterans screened for lung cancer – and to identify factors associated with delayed or absent follow-up. Findings showed that less than two-thirds of Veterans received timely recommended follow-up after an initial lung ca...
  
  Date: July 8, 2021
• Primary Care Intensive Management for High-Risk VA Patients Did Not Improve Long-term (12-24 Month) Outcomes or Costs
  This randomized trial tested whether primary care intensive management (PIM) teams could decrease acute care use, such as emergency department visits and hospitalizations, among high-risk Veterans during the second year of PIM implementation. Findings showed that offering an intensive case management program in addition to routine primary care services for high-risk patients increased outpatient u...
  
  Date: June 18, 2021
• Both “High-Needs” Patients and Facility Leaders Praise VA’s Intensive Primary Care Pilot Program
  This qualitative evaluation explored the perspectives of patients and healthcare facility leaders to identify additional important outcomes that could augment utilization and cost studies of intensive primary care (IPC) programs for high-needs patients. Findings indicated that IPC programs may yield benefits beyond healthcare cost and use, including improved quality of care, patient satisfaction, ...
  
  Date: May 13, 2021

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» View more Studies

• Improving Care and Access for LGBTQ Veterans || In Progress

  ...discrimination, these Veterans face increased health risks and unique challenges in accessing...and 69% were satisfied with their mental healthcare....Research Studies on LGBTQ Health and Care Health Outcomes and Healthcare Use...Veterans Understanding Mental Health Problems and Health Risk Behaviors among

• Optimizing Benefits for Mental Health Open Notes || In Progress

  ...soldiers suffer from some form of mental illness, with rates much higher than...Army soldiers tested positive for a mental disorder (i.e., major depressive disorder...In this Issue: Improving Care of Mental Health Conditions » Table of Contents...Contents Optimizing Benefits for Mental Health OpenNotes Feature Article Little is known

• Understanding Suicide Risks among LGBT Veterans in VA Care || In Progress

  ...discrimination, these Veterans face increased health risks and unique challenges in accessing...and 69% were satisfied with their mental healthcare....Evidence Review: Social Determinants of Health for Veterans found “only two articles...receipt of complementary and integrative health services, which may treat both pain

• Improving Patient-Provider Communications to Reduce Mental Health Disparities || In Progress

  VA's mental health specialty program alone in fiscal year 2018. Mental health...are available not only in VA's mental health specialty clinics, but also in...In This Issue: Advancements in VA Mental Healthcare » Table of Contents Interventions...Service Men and Women in Post-Deployment Mental Healthcare Feature Article There is

• Management Briefs eBrief-no51 -- Family Involved Psychosocial Treatments for Adult Mental Health Conditions

  Psychosocial Treatments for Adult Mental Health Conditions...Psychosocial Treatments for Adult Mental Health Conditions Since 2008, VA's authority...provide family services for Veterans' mental healthcare has expanded, creating a

» View more Publications

» View more Cyberseminars

Videos

• Investigator Insights: Suicide Prevention and Implementation 01/29/20
• Investigator Insights: Primary Care and Mental Health Integration 01/09/20
• Sleep Disorder Treatment to Prevent Veteran Suicide 12/22/17

Podcasts

• Evaluating the Transitioning Servicemember Support Program 12/09/2021
• The Impact of COVID-19, Social Distancing, and Mental Health 11/10/2021
• A Community Network Approach to Supporting Veterans at Risk for Suicide 07/13/2020
• Research Into Gulf War Illness 06/23/2020
• Post-Incarceration Outcomes for Veterans with Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Challenges 06/09/2020
• Engaging Rural Dwelling Veterans in VA Mental Health Treatment 05/26/2020
• Moral Reconation Therapy for Justice-Involved Veterans 05/11/2020
• Understanding Who's at Risk for Food Insecurity 04/14/2020
• Research to Reduce Veteran Suicide 12/09/2019
• Community Clergy Training Program to Improve Rural Veterans' Mental Health 12/20/2018
• Peer Coaching and Web-based Interventions to Help Veterans with Serious Mental Illness Better Manage Their Weight 06/26/2018
• Neurocognitive Risk Factors and Suicide Prevention 07/19/2017

Other Resources

• Visit the Office of Research and Development’s topic page on mental health to learn more about VA’s research milestones, current projects funded by other VA research services, and more.
• Visit the VA’s Office for Mental Health Services website to find both Veteran and clinician resources.