Decisional Needs of Veterans With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Initiating Treatment for Insomnia Disorder and Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to elicit key informant (KI) perspectives regarding decisional needs of Veterans with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) who are initiating insomnia disorder and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) treatment within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Polytrauma/TBI System of Care (PSC). Specifically, we sought to understand: (1) information regarding treatment options that Veterans with mTBI require in order to make an informed decision; and (2) values used to guide decision-making (ie, personally meaningful aspects of the decision used to compare treatment options). SETTING: Nationwide VHA PSC sites. PARTICIPANTS: Clinicians included VHA providers and policymakers involved in the management of mTBI and/or sleep disorders in the VHA PSC (n = 29). Veterans included those with a clinician-confirmed mTBI who received care for insomnia disorder and/or OSA within the past year (n = 20). DESIGN: Semi-structured interviews with the 49 KIs were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Themes were identified using a descriptive and interpretive approach to qualitative analysis. MAIN MEASURES: Not applicable. RESULTS: Informational needs identified by both KI groups included information regarding outcomes and downsides of treatment, accessible delivery, treatment candidates, description of diagnosis, and level of commitment. Values used to guide decision-making for both insomnia disorder and OSA treatment included benefits, downsides, and availability of treatments. Values used to decide on insomnia treatments alone included time commitment, intrinsic management of sleep, beliefs regarding mental health treatment, and time course of benefit. Values used to decide on OSA treatment alone included intrusiveness of the treatment, appearance, and impact on bed partners. CONCLUSIONS: The current study revealed the decisional needs of Veterans with mTBI who are initiating sleep disorder treatment. Findings can inform the development of decision aids and other efforts aimed at promoting patient-centered management of comorbid mTBI and sleep disorders, thereby improving care quality and clinical outcomes.

Suicide risk screening and evaluation among patients accessing VHA services and identified as being newly homeless.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate universal suicide risk screening and evaluation processes among newly homeless Veterans. STUDY SETTING: Not applicable. STUDY DESIGN: Examination of Veterans Health Administration (VHA) using newly homeless patients' health record data in Calendar Year 2021. DATA COLLECTION: Not applicable. DATA SOURCE: Health record data. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Most patients received suicide risk screening and/or evaluation in the year prior to and/or following homeless identification (n = 49,505; 87.4%). Smaller percentages of patients were screened and/or evaluated in close proximity to identification (n = 7358; 16.0%), 1-30 days prior to identification (n = 12,840; 39.6%), or 1-30 days following identification (n = 14,263; 34.3%). Common settings for screening included primary care, emergency and urgent care, and mental health services. Of positive screens (i.e., potentially elevated risk for suicide), 72.6% had a Comprehensive Suicide Risk Evaluation (CSRE) completed in a timely manner (i.e., same day or within 24 h). Age, race, and sex were largely unrelated to screening and/or evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: Although many newly identified homeless patients were screened and/or evaluated for suicide risk, approximately 13% were not screened; and 27% of positive screens did not receive a timely CSRE. Continued efforts are warranted to facilitate suicide risk identification to ensure homeless patients have access to evidence-based interventions.

Nutrition and Food Security Among Veterans: Operationalizing Nutritional Functioning.

OBJECTIVE: To assess injured military veterans' experiences, beliefs, and daily physical and psychosocial functioning in relation to food and nutrition. DESIGN: We used a convergent mixed-methods study design and the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health to operationalize the core constructs and influencing factors related to physical and psychosocial functioning, food, and nutrition. SETTING: Three Veterans Affairs polytrauma rehabilitation centers. PARTICIPANTS: Veterans who served in the United States military on or after September 11, 2001, and whose medical diagnoses met the criteria for polytrauma; at least 1 mild traumatic brain injury and at least 1 associated comorbidity (eg, posttraumatic stress disorder, chronic musculoskeletal pain, vestibular disturbances), for a total N of 43. INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Themes from survey responses and semistructured interview data were pooled into core constructs and influencing factors. RESULTS: Thirty-seven veterans completed all surveys and participated in recorded interviews. Based on qualitative and quantitative data, veterans' relation to food and nutrition (ie, nutritional functioning) was found to be characterized by 5 core constructs, including food background, nutrition knowledge, meal aptitude, resource navigation, and navigation to/of food spaces. Nutritional functioning was found to be shaped by 5 influencing factors, including injuries and health conditions, ideological and cultural exposures, relations, current beliefs, and current behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Nutritional functioning (food background, nutrition knowledge, meal aptitude, resource navigation, navigation to/of food spaces) among injured veterans is complex and shaped by multiple physical, psychosocial, economic, and cultural factors.

A randomized clinical trial for a self-guided sleep intervention following moderate-severe traumatic brain injury: Study protocol.

BACKGROUND: Individuals with a history of moderate-severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) experience a significantly higher prevalence of insomnia compared to the general population. While individuals living with TBI have been shown to benefit from traditional insomnia interventions (e.g., face-to-face [F2F]), such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBTI), many barriers exist that limit access to F2F evidence-based treatments. Although computerized CBT-I (CCBT-I) is efficacious in terms of reducing insomnia symptoms, individuals with moderate-severe TBI may require support to engage in such treatment. Here we describe the rationale, design, and methods of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) assessing the efficacy of a guided CCBT-I program for reducing insomnia symptoms for participants with a history of moderate-severe TBI. METHODS: This is an RCT of a guided CCBT-I intervention for individuals with a history of moderate-severe TBI and insomnia. The primary outcome is self-reported insomnia severity, pre- to post-intervention. Exploratory outcomes include changes in sleep misperception following CCBT-I and describing the nature of guidance needed by the Study Clinician during the intervention. CONCLUSION: This study represents an innovative approach to facilitating broader engagement with an evidence-based online treatment for insomnia among those with a history of moderate-severe TBI. Findings will provide evidence for the level and nature of support needed to implement guided CCBT-I. Should findings be positive, this study would provide support for a strategy by which to deliver guided CCBT-I to individuals with a history of moderate-severe TBI.

Factors Influencing Adherence to Insomnia and Obstructive Sleep Apnea Treatments among Veterans with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.

OBJECTIVE: To understand factors influencing adherence to recommended treatment for insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) among Veterans with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). METHOD: Semi-structured interviews (n = 49) with 29 clinical stakeholders and 20 Veterans were conducted. Clinical stakeholders included Veterans Health Administration providers and policymakers involved in the management of mTBI and/or sleep disorders. Veterans included those with a clinician-confirmed mTBI with a recent history of insomnia disorder and/or OSA treatment. Themes were identified using a Descriptive and Interpretive approach. RESULTS: Barriers to sleep disorder treatment adherence included factors associated with the patient (e.g., negative appraisal of treatment benefit), intervention (e.g., side effects), health conditions (e.g., cognitive challenges), health care system (e.g., limited availability of care), and socioeconomic status (e.g., economic instability). Similarly, facilitators of adherence included patient- (e.g., positive appraisal of treatment benefit), intervention- (e.g., flexible delivery format), condition- (e.g., accommodating cognitive impairments), health care system- (e.g., access to adherence support), and socioeconomic-related factors (e.g., social support). CONCLUSIONS: Interviews revealed the multi-faceted nature of factors influencing adherence to sleep disorder treatment among Veterans with mTBI. Findings can inform the development of novel interventions and care delivery models that meet the complex needs of this population.

Identifying and Predicting Subgroups of Veterans With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury Based on Distinct Configurations of Postconcussive Symptom Endorsement: A Latent Class Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To identify distinct subgroups of veterans with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) based on configurations of postconcussive symptom (PCS) endorsement, and to examine predictors of subgroup membership. SETTING: Outpatient Veterans Health Administration (VHA). PARTICIPANTS: Veterans with clinician-confirmed mTBI who completed the Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory (NSI), determined using the Comprehensive Traumatic Brain Injury Evaluation database. Individuals who tended to overreport symptoms were excluded via an embedded symptom validity scale. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study leveraging national VHA clinical data from 2012 to 2020. Latent class analysis (LCA) with a split-sample cross-validation procedure was used to identify subgroups of veterans. Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine predictors of subgroup membership. MAIN MEASURES: Latent classes identified using NSI items. RESULTS: The study included 72 252 eligible veterans, who were primarily White (73%) and male (94%). The LCA supported 7 distinct subgroups of veterans with mTBI, characterized by diverging patterns of risk for specific PCS across vestibular (eg, dizziness), somatosensory (eg, headache), cognitive (eg, forgetfulness), and mood domains (eg, anxiety). The most prevalent subgroup was Global (20.7%), followed by Cognitive-Mood (16.3%), Headache-Cognitive-Mood (H-C-M; 16.3%), Headache-Mood (14.2%), Anxiety (13.8%), Headache-Sleep (10.3%), and Minimal (8.5%). The Global class was used as the reference class for multinomial logistic regression because it was distinguished from others based on elevated risk for PCS across all domains. Female (vs male), Black (vs White), and Hispanic veterans (vs non-Hispanic) were less likely to be members of most subgroups characterized by lesser PCS endorsement relative to the Global class (excluding Headache-Mood). CONCLUSION: The 7 distinct groups identified in this study distill heterogenous patterns of PCS endorsement into clinically actionable phenotypes that can be used to tailor clinical management of veterans with mTBI. Findings reveal empirical support for potential racial, ethnic, and sex-based disparities in PCS among veterans, informing efforts aimed at promoting equitable recovery from mTBI in this population.

What Now?: Experiences of VHA patients following disclosure of suicidal ideation in primary care and mental health settings.

OBJECTIVE: While screening and treatment options for patients who disclose suicidal ideation in clinical settings have grown in recent decades, little is known about patient experiences following disclosure. We characterize patient perspectives of responses following disclosure of suicidal ideation in Veteran Health Administration (VHA) primary care and mental health settings. METHOD: Qualitative thematic analysis using a conventional/directed hybrid approach. RESULTS: A national sample comprised of sixty participants who recently screened for suicidal ideation in primary care (n = 28) and mental health (n = 32) settings completed interviews. Many patients described therapeutic experiences following disclosure, including caring staff, timely follow-up care, and offers of multiple treatment options. Other patients, however, reported deficits in staff empathy, long waits for follow-up care, or inadequate treatment options. CONCLUSIONS: While many VA clinical settings provided empathic and helpful responses, these experiences were not universal. Our findings reinforce the importance of a patient-centered approach to screening and response to disclosure, including collaboration with patients in treatment planning. Improved follow-up care coordination processes are needed. Following disclosure, contact with the staff who received the disclosure also helps patients feel cared about, and provides opportunity to troubleshoot barriers a patient may experience in accessing care.

Factors influencing shared decision-making for insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea treatment among Veterans with mild traumatic brain injury.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: We elicited perspectives of clinical stakeholders and Veterans regarding barriers and facilitators to implementing shared decision-making (SDM) for comorbid mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and sleep disorders in the Veterans Health Administration. We also compared the perspectives of clinical stakeholders and Veterans regarding determinants of SDM. METHODS: Semistructured interviews were conducted with 29 clinical stakeholders and 20 Veterans (n = 49). Clinical stakeholders included Veterans Health Administration providers and policymakers involved in the management of mTBI and/or sleep disorders (insomnia disorder, obstructive sleep apnea). Veterans included those with a clinician-confirmed mTBI who received care for insomnia disorder and/or obstructive sleep apnea within the past year. Themes were identified using a descriptive and interpretive approach to qualitative analysis. We compared results across clinical stakeholders and Veterans. RESULTS: Barriers to implementing SDM were identified by both groups at the patient (eg, mTBI sequalae), provider (eg, deprioritization of Veteran preferences), encounter (eg, time constraints), and facility levels (eg, reduced care access). Similarly, both groups identified facilitators at the patient (eg, enhanced trust), provider (eg, effective communication), encounter (eg, decision support), and facility levels (eg, mitigating access barriers). Integrated services and provider discontinuity were factors identified by clinical stakeholders and Veterans alone, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our study revealed factors shaping the implementation of SDM at the levels of the patient, provider, encounter, and facility. Findings can inform the development of strategies aimed at implementing SDM for comorbid mTBI and sleep disorders, promoting patient-centered care and enhancing clinical outcomes. CITATION: Kinney AR, Brenner LA, Nance M, et al. Factors influencing shared decision-making for insomnia and obstructive sleep apnea treatment among Veterans with mild traumatic brain injury. J Clin Sleep Med. 2024;20(5):801-812.

Delivery of bright light therapy within the Veterans Health Administration.

BACKGROUND: Bright light therapy (BLT) is efficacious for seasonal and non-seasonal depression. However, the current state of BLT use in practice is unknown, impeding efforts to identify and address utilization gaps. This study's objective was to investigate BLT delivery in a nationwide U.S. healthcare system. METHODS: This was a retrospective observational study of electronic medical records from all veterans who received outpatient mood disorder-related care in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) from October 2008 through September 2020. BLT delivery was measured through the placement of light box consults. RESULTS: Of the 3,442,826 veterans who received outpatient mood disorder care, only 57,908 (1.68 %) received a light box consult. Consults increased by 548.44 % (99.9 % credible interval: 467.36 %, 638.74 %) over the timeframe and displayed a robust yearly cycle that peaked on either December 21st or December 22nd. Past mental health treatment for a mood disorder was associated with a higher probability of a consult (relative risk = 4.79, 99.9 % CI: 4.21, 5.60). There was low representation related to veteran age, gender, race, and ethnicity. LIMITATIONS: No information on patients who declined light boxes or actual light box use following consult placement. CONCLUSIONS: Outpatient BLT delivery for mood disorders in the VHA remains low, despite significant growth over the past decade. It also displays a strong seasonal rhythm that peaks on the winter solstice, suggesting a limited focus on seasonal depression and a suboptimal reactive approach to changing sunlight. Overall, there exists ample opportunity for novel implementation efforts aimed at increasing utilization of BLT.

Longitude-based time zone partitions and rates of suicide.

BACKGROUND: Increasing evidence suggests that conditions with decreased morning and increased evening light exposure, including shift work, daylight-saving time, and eveningness, are associated with elevated mortality and suicide risk. Given that the alignment between the astronomical, biological, and social time varies across a time zone, with later-shifted daylight exposure in the western partition, we hypothesized that western time zone partitions would have higher suicide rates than eastern partitions. METHODS: United States (U.S.) county-level suicide and demographic data, from 2010 to 2018, were obtained from a Centers for Disease Control database. Using longitude and latitude, counties were sorted into the western, middle, or eastern partition of their respective time zones, as well as the northern and southern halves of the U.S. Linear regressions were used to estimate the associations between suicide rates and time zone partitions, adjusting for gender, race, ethnicity, age group, and unemployment rates. RESULTS: Data were available for 2872 counties. Across the U.S., western partitions had statistically significantly higher rates of suicide compared to eastern partitions and averaged up to two additional yearly deaths per 100,000 people (p < .001). LIMITATIONS: Ecological design and limited adjustment for socioeconomic factors. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first study of the relationship between longitude-based time zone partitions and suicide. The results were consistent with the hypothesized elevated suicide rates in the western partitions, and concordant with previous reports on cancer mortality and transportation fatalities. The next step is to retest the hypothesis with individual-level data, accounting for latitude, photoperiodic changes, daylight-saving time, geoclimatic variables, physical and mental health indicators, as well as socioeconomic adversity and protection.

COVID-19 and Lifetime Experiences of Trauma, Moral Injury, and Institutional Betrayal Among Healthcare Providers.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to increase understanding regarding healthcare provider experiences with psychological trauma, moral injury, and institutional betrayal, both over the lifetime and during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: The study employed a cross-sectional design to understand traumatic experiences, moral injury, and institutional betrayal among medical and mental health providers. Participants were asked to identify an index trauma, and experiences were coded qualitatively using categories for traumatic events, moral injury, and institutional betrayal. RESULTS: Results revealed that experiences of trauma, moral injury, and institutional betrayal were common in relation to the pandemic, as were prepandemic histories of traumatic exposures. Findings indicate that trauma exposure was a work hazard for healthcare providers during the pandemic, which could result in negative long-term mental health outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Future research is needed to explore potential long-term negative outcomes among healthcare providers.

VA's implementation of universal screening and evaluation for the suicide risk identification program in November 2020 -Implications for Veterans with prior mental health needs.

IMPORTANCE: United States Veterans are at higher risk for suicide than non-Veterans. Veterans in rural areas are at higher risk than their urban counterparts. The coronavirus pandemic intensified risk factors for suicide, especially in rural areas. OBJECTIVE: To examine associations between Veterans Health Administration's (VA's) universal suicide risk screening, implemented November 2020, and likelihood of Veterans being screened, and receiving follow-up evaluations, as well as post-screening suicidal behavior among patients who used VA mental health services in 2019. METHODS: VA's Suicide Risk Identification Strategy (Risk ID), implemented October 2018, is a national, standardized process for suicide risk screening and evaluation. In November 2020, VA expanded Risk ID, requiring annual universal suicide screening. As such, we are evaluating outcomes of interest before and after the start of the policy among Veterans who had ≥1 VA mental health care visit in 2019 (n = 1,654,180; rural n = 485,592, urban n = 1,168,588). Regression-adjusted outcomes were compared 6 months pre-universal screening and 6, 12 and 13 months post-universal screening implementation. MEASURES: Item-9 on the Patient Health Questionnaire (I-9, VA's historic suicide screener), Columbia- Suicide Severity Risk Scale (C-SSRS) Screener, VA's Comprehensive Suicide Risk Evaluation (CSRE), and Suicide Behavior and Overdose Report (SBOR). RESULTS: 12 months post-universal screening implementation, 1.3 million Veterans (80% of the study cohort) were screened or evaluated for suicide risk, with 91% the sub-cohort who had at least one mental health visit in the 12 months post-universal screening implementation period were screened or evaluated. At least 20% of the study cohort was screened outside of mental health care settings. Among Veterans with positive screens, 80% received follow-up CSREs. Covariate-adjusted models indicated that an additional 89,160 Veterans were screened per month via the C-SSRS and an additional 30,106 Veterans/month screened via either C-SSRS or I-9 post-universal screening implementation. Compared to their urban counterparts, 7,720 additional rural Veterans/month were screened via the C-SSRS and 9,226 additional rural Veterans/month were screened via either the C-SSRS or I-9. CONCLUSION: VA's universal screening requirement via VA's Risk ID program increased screening for suicide risk among Veterans with mental health care needs. A universal approach to screening may be particularly advantageous for rural Veterans, who are typically at higher risk for suicide but have fewer interactions with the health care system, particularly within specialty care settings, due to higher barriers to accessing care. Insights from this program offer valuable insights for health systems nationwide.

Veteran Perspectives on Population-Based Suicide Risk Screening in VHA Primary Care: Mixed-Methods Study.

BACKGROUND: In late 2018, VHA implemented a multi-stage suicide risk screening and evaluation initiative, Suicide Risk Identification Strategy, or "Risk ID," in primary care settings. OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this study was to characterize VHA primary care patient perspectives regarding population-based suicide risk screening through the Risk ID program. DESIGN: Mixed methods; survey and qualitative interviews. PARTICIPANTS: Veterans screened for suicide risk using Risk ID in primary care (n = 868) participated in a survey of veteran attitudes about screening (45% response rate); thirty additionally participated in follow-up qualitative interviews. MAIN MEASURES: The quantitative survey consisted of three questions on attitudes about screening for suicidal thoughts in primary care. In qualitative interviews, veterans were asked about their experiences with the Risk ID processes and recommendations for improving Risk ID. KEY RESULTS: Over 90% of veterans reported that it is appropriate for primary care providers or nurses/medical assistants to ask veterans about thoughts of suicide during primary care visits. Approximately half of veterans indicated that veterans should be asked about suicidal thoughts at every visit. Qualitative findings revealed that while most veterans were generally supportive and appreciated VHA screening for suicidal thoughts, they also expressed concern for the potential for inadvertent harm. Participants expressed conflicting preferences for how screening should be handled and delivered. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that most veterans support the integration of standardized suicide risk assessment into routine primary care visits. However, findings also suggest that population-based suicide risk assessment should further consider patient experiences and preferences. Specifically, additional guidance or training for staff conducting suicide risk screening may be warranted to ensure patients feel heard (e.g., eye contact, expressing empathy) and increase patient understanding of the purpose of the screening and potential outcomes. These patient-centered approaches may improve patient experience and facilitate disclosure of suicidal thoughts.

Racial and Ethnic Differences in Deaths by Suicide, Drug Overdose, and Opioid-Related Overdose in a National Sample of Military Members With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury, 1999-2019.

OBJECTIVE: To examine racial and ethnic differences in suicide and drug and opioid-related overdose deaths among a population-based cohort of military service members who were diagnosed with a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) during military service. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort. SETTING: Military personnel receiving care within the Military Health System between 1999 and 2019. PARTICIPANTS: In total, 356 514 military members aged 18 to 64 years, who received an mTBI diagnosis as their index TBI between 1999 and 2019, while on active duty or activated. MAIN MEASURES: Death by suicide, death by drug overdose, and death by opioid overdose were identified using International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes within the National Death Index. Race and ethnicity were captured from the Military Health System Data Repository. RESULTS: Overall crude rates were 38.67 per 100 000 person-years for suicide; 31.01 per 100 000 person-years for drug overdose death; and 20.82 per 100 000 person-years for opioid overdose death. Crude and age-specific rates for military members who self-identified as Other were higher than all other racial/ethnic groups for all 3 mortality outcomes. Adjusting for age, suicide rates for those classified as Other were up to 5 times that of other racial/ethnic groups for suicide, and up to 11 and 3.5 times that of other race/ethnicity groups for drug and opioid overdose death, respectively. CONCLUSION: Findings extend previous knowledge regarding risk for suicide and deaths by drug overdose among those with mTBI and highlight new important areas for understanding the impact of race and ethnicity on mortality. Methodological limitations regarding classification of race and ethnicity must be addressed to ensure that future research provides a better understanding of racial and ethnic disparities in suicide and drug overdose mortality among military members with TBI.

Research Letter: Traumatic Brain Injury Among Veterans Accessing VA Justice-Related Services.

OBJECTIVE: Risk for traumatic brain injury (TBI) within both the Veteran population and among individuals with a history of criminal justice involvement is notably high. Despite this, research examining TBI among Veterans with a history of criminal justice involvement (ie, justice-involved Veterans) remains limited. The sequelae of TBI can impact justice-involved Veterans' engagement in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) justice-related services (ie, Veterans Justice Outreach and Health Care for Re-entry Veterans), thus potentially increasing risk for recidivism and impacting psychosocial functioning. As such, further understanding of TBI risk among justice-involved Veterans has the potential to inform the need for tailored screening and interventional efforts within VA justice-related service settings. We sought to better understand relative risk for TBI diagnosis among male and female Veteran recipients and nonrecipients of VA justice-related services. SETTING: Electronic medical record data for Veterans accessing VA services from 2005 to 2018. PARTICIPANTS: 1517 447 (12.48% justice-involved) male and 126 237 (8.89% justice-involved) female Veterans. DESIGN: A cross-sectional examination of national VA electronic medical record data. Sex-stratified analyses were conducted to examine relative risk of TBI diagnosis based on use of VA justice-related services. MAIN MEASURES: Documented TBI diagnosis was the main outcome. Covariates included VA service use, age, race, and ethnicity. RESULTS: Both male and female Veterans using VA justice-related services were more likely to have a documented TBI diagnosis in their electronic VA medical record. Associations were attenuated, yet maintained significance, in all adjusted and sensitivity models. CONCLUSIONS: Given potential risk for TBI, enhancing and tailoring care for justice-involved Veterans may be critical to facilitating rehabilitation and reducing recidivism. Examination of existing services within justice-related settings and methods of augmenting care is an important next step.

Policy Changes as a Context for Moral Injury Development in the Wake of Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization.

The U.S. Supreme Court's 2022 ruling in Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization held that the U.S. Constitution does not confer the right to an abortion, which set into motion an overhaul of reproductive health care services in certain states. Health care professionals are now operating within a rapidly changing landscape of clinical practice in which they may experience conflict between personal and professional morals (eg, bodily autonomy, patient advocacy), uncertainty regarding allowable practices, and fear of prosecution (eg, loss of medical license) related to reproductive health care services. The ethical dilemmas stemming from Dobbs create a context for exposure to potentially morally injurious events, moral distress, and moral injury (ie, functional impairment stemming from exposure to moral violations) among health care professionals. Considerations related to clinical intervention and approaches to policy are reviewed. Early identification of health care professionals' potentially morally injurious event exposure related to restricted reproductive services is critical for preventing and intervening on moral injury, with implications for improving functioning and retention within the medical field.

The unique association of posttraumatic stress disorder with hypertension among veterans: A replication of Kibler et al. (2009) using Bayesian estimation and data from the United States-Veteran Microbiome Project.

OBJECTIVE: Kibler et al. (2009) reported that hypertension was related to PTSD independent of depression. These two conditions have significant diagnostic overlap. The present study sought to conceptually replicate this work with a veteran sample, using Bayesian estimation to directly update past results, as well as examine symptom severity scores in relation to hypertension. METHOD: This was a secondary analysis of data obtained from the United States-Veteran Microbiome Project. Lifetime diagnoses of PTSD and major depressive disorder (MDD) were obtained from a structured clinical interview and hypertension diagnoses were extracted from electronic medical records. PTSD and depressive symptom severity were obtained from self-report measures. Logistic regressions with Bayesian estimation were used to estimate the associations between hypertension and (a) psychiatric diagnostic history and (b) symptom severity scores. RESULTS: Compared with veterans without lifetime diagnoses of either disorder, the PTSD-only group was estimated to have a 29% increase in hypertension risk, and the PTSD + MDD group was estimated to have a 66% increase in hypertension risk. Additionally, higher levels of PTSD symptom severity were associated with a higher risk of hypertension. CONCLUSION: PTSD diagnosis and symptom severity are uniquely associated with hypertension, independent of MDD or depressive symptom severity. These results support previous findings that PTSD might be a modifiable risk factor for the prevention and treatment of hypertension. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Primary Care and Mental Health Staff Perspectives on Universal Suicide Risk Screening and Care Coordination.

Little is known about staff or patient perspectives on suicide risk screening programs. The objectives of this study were to characterize Veterans Health Administration (VHA) primary care and mental health staff perspectives regarding the VHA Suicide Risk Identification Strategy screening and assessment program and to describe coordination of suicide prevention-related care following positive screening results. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 40 primary care and mental health staff at 12 VHA facilities. An inductive-deductive hybrid approach was used to conduct a thematic analysis. Several key themes were identified. Primary care and mental health staff participants accepted having a structured process for screening for suicidal ideation and conducting risk assessments, but both groups noted limitations and challenges with initial assessment and care coordination following screening. Mental health staff reported more concerns than primary care staff about negative impacts of the screening and assessment process on treatment. Both groups felt that better training was needed for primary care staff to effectively discuss and evaluate suicide risk. The results suggested that additional modifications of the screening and assessment process are needed for patients already known to have elevated risk of suicide or chronic suicidal ideation.