Veterans who received intravenous ketamine treatments had improved symptoms of depression within the first 6 weeks, and these improvements were sustained over at least 6 months with decreasing infusion frequency, according to a recent study.
Study: Vietnam War-Era Veterans Not at Increased Risk of Suicide Mortality
Veterans who served in the Vietnam War era, either in theater or not deployed, are not at increased risk of suicide mortality compared with the U.S. population, although the number of suicides among these veterans is noteworthy and merits the attention of mental health professionals and policymakers, according to a recent study.
VA Telemedicine Rates Remain High After COVID-19 Pandemic, Especially for Mental Healthcare Visits
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, telemedicine rates for veterans enrolled in VA healthcare services remained high, accounting for more than half of mental healthcare visits, while telephone-based care has decreased to pre-pandemic levels, according to a recent study.
Vet Centers Don’t Always Appropriately Document, Address Veteran Suicide Risk
VA’s Vet Centers are repeatedly falling short when it comes to properly assessing and documenting veterans’ suicide risk, according to department watchdogs.
Psychological Distress Complicates Remote mTBI
Recovery from mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and posttraumatic stress, which are prevalent in military servicemembers, is complicated because the conditions share objective and subjective cognitive symptoms.
Cannabis-Use Disorder Riskier in Veterans With Mental Health Conditions
Veterans with psychiatric disorders, especially those with serious mental health issues, are especially vulnerable to cannabis-use disorder, according to a new study warning of an increase in the condition.
Veterans’ Disinhibited Behaviors Linked to Range of Physical, Mental Conditions
Behavioral disinhibition is an externalizing (EXT) disorder common with many psychiatric conditions. Recent genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have demonstrated the overlap between EXT disorders and important aspects of veterans’ health, such as suicide-related behaviors and substance-use disorders (SUDs).
Despite Expanded Efforts by VA, Veteran Suicides Rose Slightly in Recent Report
A new VA report revealed that 6,392 veterans died by suicide in 2021, the most-recent year for which data was available. That was 114 more than in 2020.
New VA Podcast Explores Use of Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies for PTSD
Marine and Army veteran Jonathan Leubecky suffered from PTSD and several suicide attempts following deployment to Iraq. His first attempt to take his life was only two months after his return home in 2006.
What Happens to Veterans Discontinuing Depression Treatment?
Nearly half of veterans who discontinue treatment for depression end up going back within six months, with reengagement rates higher in those receiving both psychotherapy and antidepressant medications.
Bipolar Veterans Sometimes Struggle to Get Pain Treatment at VA
Bipolar veterans with chronic pain sometimes have problems receiving evidence-based treatment in the VA healthcare system, according to a new study.
Pregnant Veterans Often Discontinue Antidepressants, Monitoring Needed
VA medical providers and veterans need more education about the risks and benefits from continuing antidepressants during pregnancy, according to a new study.
Anti-Suicide Program Offering Free Emergency Care Shows Some Success
At the beginning of this year, VA announced a program whereby veterans in suicidal crisis could go to any VA or non-VA healthcare facility for free emergency healthcare.
TBI Triples Suicide Rate Among Veterans vs. General US Population
As suicide deaths have reached shocking highs among American adults as a whole, the rates for U.S. veterans are even higher—57.3% greater than for nonveterans.
American Indian/Alaska Native Veterans Had Less Access to Mental Telehealthcare
The American Indian/Alaskan Native population has traditionally experienced more serious health issues and barriers to healthcare compared to those of other races or ethnicities.
Program Miles Helped Create Teaches Veterans How to Process Emotions
Psychotherapy is never easy, especially for a veteran being treated for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Being asked to recall and dissect the most traumatic moments in your life can be an arduous task for anyone.
Ketamine Appears to Be as Effective as ECT for Treatment-Resistant Depression
Ketamine was found to be noninferior to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) as therapy for treatment-resistant major depression without psychosis, according to a new study.
Alternative Measurement Finds Slightly Higher Veteran Suicide Rate Than General Population
By any measure, suicide rates for veterans are higher than the general U.S. population; how much higher, however, can vary greatly by how the comparison group is defined.
OIG Calls for Update of 2008 VA Mental Health Services Handbook
VA’s mental health services handbook is almost a decade out of date, making consistent care more difficult to achieve and possibly putting veterans’ safety at risk, according to a report by the VA Office of the Inspector General (OIG).
GAO: Rural Veterans Have More Difficulties Accessing Mental Healthcare
Rural veterans with serious mental health issues face a disproportionate challenge when seeking mental healthcare services from VA, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO).
Mental Health Disorders Identified in Deployed Soldiers, Higher Among Females
Active-duty servicemembers who have mental health disorders need continued support when they are deployed, according to a new study that underscored the need for in-theater healthcare providers. The Uniformed Service University of the Health Sciences-led authors also found that women were more likely to report mental health issues, including serious types, such as bipolar disorder.
Mental Health of Veterans Before, During and After COVID-19 Pandemic
With work disruptions, social isolation and economic concerns, the pandemic understandably caused significant distress for many veterans.
Outpatient Prolonged Exposure Therapy Is Effective for Combat-Related PTSD
Outpatient prolonged exposure therapy, a type of cognitive behavioral therapy that teaches individuals to gradually approach trauma-related memories, feelings and situations, is a fast and effective treatment for combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in active-duty military and veterans, according to a new study.
VAMCs Struggle to Find Mental Health Staffers for Primary Care
For years, VA has been working to integrate mental healthcare into primary care and requires facilities serving at least 5,000 veterans annually to have a mental health provider available within primary care settings.
Military Surgeons Deployed to Combat Environments Face Moral Injury, Distress
A new VA study may be the first to examine moral injury and distress at the intersection of these populations—that is, military healthcare professionals, specifically surgeons
Genetic Risk Factors for Alzheimer’s Found for Those of African Ancestry
VA researchers have discovered several new genetic variants associated with Alzheimer’s disease—the most common form of dementia—in people of African ancestry.
Psychiatric Conditions More Common With Drug-Resistant Epilepsy
It is not uncommon for epilepsy patients to also have psychiatric conditions, according to a new study which used VHA records to better understand the co-morbidity.
Mental Health Conditions Affect Treatment, Outcomes for HIV Patients
The presence of diagnosed mental health conditions—whose prevalence in people with HIV has grown overall in recent years—can have an important impact on retention in care and viral suppression in HIV patients, a new study shows.
Clozapine Underused in Veterans With Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective Disorder
Although clozapine is the only pharmacologic intervention approved for treating patients with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder who have had suicidal behaviors or inadequate response to other antipsychotics, the medication is underutilized in veterans with these mental health issues, according to a new study.
Identified: Genes Associated With Risk of Suicidal Thoughts in Veterans
Multiple genes linked to an increased risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors in U.S. military veterans have been identified, according to a new study.