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.

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.

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.

Facility-Level and Racial Disparities in Access to Inpatient Psychiatric Occupational Therapy Services in the Veterans Health Administration.

IMPORTANCE: Veterans receiving inpatient psychiatric services with limitations in activities of daily living (ADLs) benefit from occupational therapy, yet disparities in access are unknown. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether ADL limitations, an indicator of occupational therapy need, was associated with inpatient psychiatric occupational therapy utilization in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) and whether this relationship differs by facility characteristics. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of VHA data. Modified Poisson regression modeled occupational therapy utilization as a function of ADL limitations, facility characteristics, and covariates. Interactions estimated whether the relationship between ADL limitations and occupational therapy utilization differed across facility characteristics. SETTING: VHA inpatient psychiatric setting. PARTICIPANTS: Veterans receiving VHA inpatient psychiatric care from 2015 to 2020 (N = 133,844). OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Occupational therapy utilization. RESULTS: Veterans with ADL limitations were more likely to receive occupational therapy. Veterans receiving care in facilities with higher complexity and greater inpatient psychiatric care quality were more likely to receive occupational therapy. Additionally, Black veterans were less likely to receive occupational therapy relative to their White, non-Hispanic counterparts. Interactions indicated that the extent to which ADL limitations drove access to occupational therapy utilization was weaker within facilities with higher complexity and care quality. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Veterans with ADL limitations were more likely to access inpatient psychiatric occupational therapy, suggesting that such services are generally allocated to veterans in need. However, findings indicate disparities in access across patient-level (e.g., Black race) and facility-level (e.g., facility complexity) factors, informing efforts to eliminate barriers to accessing these valuable services. Plain-Language Summary: This is the first study, to our knowledge, to examine disparities in access to inpatient psychiatric occupational therapy in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The study findings show that access to inpatient psychiatric occupational therapy is partly driven by the needs of the patient. However, nonclinical factors, such as a patient's race and the characteristics of the facility at which they receive care (complexity, number of psychiatric beds available, and the quality of psychiatric care), are also important drivers of access. Identifying factors influencing access to these valuable services is the first step in developing strategies that reduce barriers to access for veterans in need.

Are We Undercounting the True Burden of Mortality Related to Suicide, Alcohol Use, or Drug Use? An Analysis Using Death Certificate Data From Colorado Veterans.

Knowledge regarding deaths due to suicide or alcohol- or drug-related causes may be limited by inconsistent and/or restrictive case definitions, resulting in concerns regarding validity of findings and underestimates of burden. In this proof-of-concept study, we assessed varying case definitions (suicide, alcohol-related, and drug-related mortality using underlying-cause-of-death (UCOD) versus multiple-cause-of-death (MCOD) International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes) on the basis of counts and rates among Colorado veterans who died (2009-2020). Suicide, alcohol-related, or drug-related ICD-10 codes were identified, and 2 case definitions were compared: UCOD (qualifying ICD-10 code listed as the UCOD) and MCOD (qualifying ICD-10 code in any cause-of-death field). Of 109,314 decedents, the number of deaths and the age-adjusted mortality rate (per 100,000 persons) significantly increased when MCOD codes were included: n = 4,930 (110.3 deaths/100,000 persons) for UCOD versus n = 6,954 (138.4 deaths/100,000 persons) for MCOD. While rates of suicide mortality did not change, rates of alcohol-related mortality doubled with the more inclusive case definition: 1,752 (27.3 deaths/100,000 persons) for UCOD versus 3,847 (59.8 deaths/100,000 persons) for MCOD. Alcohol-use disorder codes accounted for 71% of additional alcohol-related deaths captured with the MCOD definition. Studies that rely on UCOD codes may be underestimating the burden of deaths, especially alcohol-related deaths. Increased effort is required to reevaluate current classifications of deaths associated with suicide, alcohol use, or drug use.

Suicide risk among veterans using VHA justice-involved services: a latent class analysis.

BACKGROUND: Justice-involved Veterans experience notable risk for psychosocial stressors (e.g., homelessness) and psychiatric multimorbidity, which can result in complex clinical presentations. However, research examining how such factors coalesce to impact risk for suicide remains limited. METHODS: We conducted a latent class analysis of 180,454 Veterans accessing Veterans Health Administration (VHA) justice-related services from 2005 to 2018. RESULTS: A four-model class membership solution was identified. Among these classes, risk for suicide was highest among Veterans with greater psychiatric burden, with risk most notable among those with high VA service use. Veterans seeking healthcare primarily focused on substance use disorders or with low psychiatric burden and service use had a lower risk for suicide. CONCLUSIONS: Psychiatric multimorbidity is salient as it relates to suicide among Veterans accessing VHA justice-related services. Further evaluation of existing VHA services for this population and methods of augmenting and enhancing care for justice-involved Veterans with histories of co-occurring psychiatric conditions may be beneficial in facilitating suicide prevention efforts.

Unmet Need for Outpatient Occupational Therapy Services Among Veterans With Mild Traumatic Brain Injury in the Veterans Health Administration: The Role of Facility Characteristics.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether participation restrictions, an indicator of need for occupational therapy (OT), was associated with outpatient OT utilization in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) among Veterans with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), and whether this relation differs by facility characteristics. DESIGN: In a secondary analysis of national VHA data, we used modified Poisson regression to model OT utilization (yes/no) as a function of participation restrictions (Mayo-Portland Adaptability Inventory Participation Index [M2PI]), facility characteristics, and covariates. Facility characteristics included complexity, geographic region, and self-reported access to specialty care. Covariates included prior OT utilization, sociodemographic factors, injury characteristics, and spatial access (eg, drive time). Interactions estimated whether the relation between participation restrictions and OT utilization differed across facility characteristics. SETTING: Outpatient setting in the VHA. PARTICIPANTS: 8684 Veterans with a clinician-confirmed mTBI who received outpatient VHA care between 2012 and 2020 (N=8684). INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): OT utilization was measured within a year of M2PI administration using VHA administrative data. RESULTS: Many Veterans who did not receive OT reported participation limitations, indicating unmet need for OT (eg, 67% with leisure restrictions). Participation restrictions were associated with increased likelihood of receiving OT (risk ratio [RR]=1.01; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.006-1.019), suggesting a tendency for Veterans' OT-related needs to be satisfied. However, interactions indicated that this was not the case among Veterans receiving care in lower complexity facilities, and those in the South. Veterans with longer drive times were less likely to receive OT (RR=0.82; 95% CI=0.744-0.904). CONCLUSIONS: Participation restrictions were associated with OT utilization, yet many Veterans with mTBI who may have benefited did not receive such care. Specific barriers to accessing OT (eg, OT practitioner supply) should be investigated. Novel care models can ensure access to OT services among Veterans seeking care at less-resourced and/or geographically distant VHA facilities.

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.

The association among insomnia symptom severity, comorbid symptoms, and suicidal ideation in two veteran cohorts meeting diagnostic criteria for insomnia disorder.

OBJECTIVE: Examine the association between insomnia symptom severity and suicidal ideation (SI), after adjusting for clinical comorbidity in veterans meeting diagnostic criteria for insomnia disorder. METHODS: Secondary data analyses of psychometrically validated baseline assessments of depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and anxiety symptoms from two online insomnia intervention randomized clinical trials (n = 232; n = 80) were conducted. Multiple linear regression was used to determine the association between insomnia symptom severity and SI, after controlling for clinical comorbidity and demographics. RESULTS: Insomnia symptom severity was significantly correlated with comorbid depression, PTSD, and anxiety symptoms in both cohorts and significantly correlated with SI in one. After controlling for demographics and clinical comorbidity, insomnia symptom severity was not significantly associated with SI in linear regression models. CONCLUSION: Findings extend insomnia-suicide research by providing evidence that insomnia symptom severity may not confer a unique risk for SI above comorbid mental health symptoms in veterans meeting diagnostic criteria for insomnia disorder.

Factors Influencing the Implementation of Guideline-Recommended Practices for Postconcussive Sleep Disturbance and Headache in the Veterans Health Administration: A Mixed Methods Study.

OBJECTIVE: Understand barriers and facilitators of implementing recommended practices for postconcussive sleep disturbance and headache, as outlined in the Veterans Administration/Department of Defense 2016 Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) for mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). DESIGN: Convergent parallel mixed methods. SETTING: Ten national Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty VHA stakeholders (14 clinicians; 4 researchers; 2 policymakers), 55% of whom were affiliated with a VHA polytrauma rehabilitation center (N=20). INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Stakeholders rated the quality of recommendations for sleep disturbance and headache using the Appraisal of Guidelines Research and Evaluation-Recommendations Excellence instrument. A descriptive analysis of item scores was performed to understand the following features of the recommendations: (1) clinical credibility (eg, evidence quality), (2) alignment with stakeholder values, and (3) implementability. We conducted semistructured interviews with stakeholders and used descriptive and interpretive analyses to reveal emergent themes. After analyzing the Appraisal of Guidelines Research and Evaluation-Recommendations Excellence and qualitative interview data, we synthesized the results into coherent conclusions (ie, meta-inferences) by comparing and contrasting respective findings. RESULTS: Stakeholders highlighted that the mTBI CPG includes features that reflect clinical priorities (eg, alignment with veteran preferences), making it an appropriate standard of care and facilitating its implementation. However, stakeholders also identified that the design of the mTBI CPG, along with provider-level (eg, knowledge) and facility-level (eg, resources) factors, may create barriers for implementation. In addition to these potential barriers, stakeholders noted a lack of comprehensive and systematic efforts designed to promote the uptake of these recommendations. Findings also revealed stakeholder recommendations for addressing potential barriers (eg, decision support). CONCLUSIONS: With the recent release of the 2021 mTBI CPG, decision makers are encouraged to incorporate information gathered from previous implementation efforts to promote adherence to updated recommendations. Study findings, including recommended changes suggested by stakeholders, offer information that can be leveraged to design such efforts and promote care quality and associated outcomes for veterans with mTBI.

Traumatic Brain Injury Classification Variability During the Afghanistan/Iraq Conflicts: Surveillance, Clinical, Research, and Policy Implications.

OBJECTIVE: Challenges associated with case ascertainment of traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) sustained during the Afghanistan/Iraq military operations have been widespread. This study was designed to examine how the prevalence and severity of TBI among military members who served during the conflicts were impacted when a more precise classification of TBI diagnosis codes was compared with the Department of Defense Standard Surveillance Case-Definition (DoD-Case-Definition). SETTING: Identification of TBI diagnoses in the Department of Defense's Military Health System from October 7, 2001, until December 31, 2019. PARTICIPANTS: Military members with a TBI diagnosis on an encounter record during the study window. DESIGN: Descriptive observational study to evaluate the prevalence and severity of TBI with regard to each code set (ie, the DoD-Case-Definition and the more precise set of TBI diagnosis codes). The frequencies of index TBI severity were compared over time and further evaluated against policy changes. MAIN MEASURES: The more precise TBI diagnosis code set excludes the following: (1) DoD-only extender codes, which are not used in other healthcare settings; and (2) nonprecise TBI codes, which include injuries that do not necessarily meet TBI diagnostic criteria. RESULTS: When comparing the 2 TBI classifications, the DoD-Case-Definition captured a higher prevalence of TBIs; 38.5% were classified by the DoD-Case-Definition only (>164 000 military members). 73% of those identified by the DoD-Case-Definition only were diagnosed with nonprecise TBI codes only, with questionable specificity as to whether a TBI occurred. CONCLUSION: We encourage the field to reflect on decisions made pertaining to TBI case ascertainment during the height of the conflicts. Efforts focused on achieving consensus regarding TBI case ascertainment are recommended. Doing so will allow the field to be better prepared for future conflicts, and improve surveillance, screening, and diagnosis in noncombat settings, as well as our ability to understand the long-term effects of TBI.

Participation Mediates the Relationship Between Postconcussive Symptoms and Suicidal Ideation Among Veterans.

IMPORTANCE: Veterans with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and associated symptoms are at risk for suicide. Postconcussive symptoms (PCS) may heighten risk for suicidal thoughts by limiting veterans' participation. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether participation mediates the relationship between PCS and suicidal ideation. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, exploratory design. Structural equation models were used to investigate whether participation mediated the relationship between PCS and suicidal ideation. SETTING: Community. PARTICIPANTS: Veterans with mTBI (N = 145). OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The Ohio State University TBI Identification Method was used to establish mTBI diagnosis. We identified latent variables for PCS and participation using the Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory and select domains of the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36, respectively. We used the Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation to measure the presence of suicidal ideation. RESULTS: Participation mediated the relationship between PCS and the presence of suicidal ideation (odds ratio [OR] = 1.09, p = .011). More severe PCS were associated with lesser participation (ß = -.86, p < .001); greater participation was associated with lower odds of suicidal ideation (OR = 0.92, p = .007). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: PCS may heighten risk for suicidal thoughts among veterans by limiting successful participation, a primary target of occupational therapy intervention. Thus, the results suggest that occupational therapy practitioners can play a substantial role in suicide prevention services for veterans with mTBI. Preventive services could mitigate suicide risk among veterans with mTBI by enabling sustained engagement in meaningful and health-promoting activity (e.g., reasons for living) and targeting PCS. What This Article Adds: Researchers have proposed that occupational therapy practitioners can help prevent veteran suicide by supporting their engagement in meaningful, health-promoting activity and by targeting suicide risk factors within their scope of practice. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to offer empirical support for such proposed suicide prevention efforts. Although additional research is needed, these results are promising and highlight a distinct role for occupational therapy in suicide prevention.

Interpersonal Violence Throughout the Lifespan: Associations With Suicidal Ideation and Suicide Attempt Among a National Sample of Female Veterans.

BACKGROUND: Female veterans experience interpersonal violence (ie, physical and sexual violence) more often than male veterans and nonveteran females. There is limited knowledge of types of interpersonal violence across the lifespan in relation to suicidal ideation and suicide attempt. Prior research has also focused on those accessing the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) care. OBJECTIVE: This study examined if physical and sexual violence at differing time points (ie, premilitary, during military service) were associated with suicidal ideation and a suicide attempt at subsequent time points. We anticipated that violence would be associated with an increased risk of suicidal ideation and attempt; however, given limited prior research, we were uncertain which types of violence and time points would be associated with risk. RESEARCH DESIGN: Data from a cross-sectional national survey. SUBJECTS: A total of 407 female veterans using, formerly using, or who never used VHA care. MEASURES: Suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, physical violence, and sexual violence were assessed. RESULTS: Premilitary sexual, but not physical, violence was associated with military suicidal ideation. Both premilitary and military sexual and physical violence were associated with postmilitary suicidal ideation. Premilitary and military sexual, but not physical, violence were associated with a postmilitary suicide attempt. These results were maintained after accounting for VHA use. A significant model for military suicide attempt was not generated. CONCLUSIONS: Assessment of premilitary and military sexual violence among female veterans is warranted within the context of suicide risk assessment and prevention. Preventing sexual violence among female veterans may be important for preventing suicidal ideation and attempt.

Gender Differences in Lifetime Prevalence and Onset Timing of Suicidal Ideation and Suicide Attempt Among Post-9/11 Veterans and Nonveterans.

BACKGROUND: Rising US suicide rates are particularly notable among military veterans, especially women. It is unknown whether these differences extend to suicidal ideation (SI) and suicide attempts (SA), which are major predictors of suicide. Literature comparing SI and SA prevalence and timing of onset between veterans and nonveterans is limited. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to estimate and compare SI and SA prevalence and onset timing relative to age and military service between veterans and nonveterans, by gender. RESEARCH DESIGN: Gender-stratified analysis of cross-sectional data from the Comparative Health Assessment Interview Study. Generalized estimating equations logistic regression was used to compare prevalence and onset of SI and SA between time periods and across groups, controlling for years at risk in each time period. SUBJECTS: National sample of 15,082 post-9/11 veterans (36.7% women) and 4638 nonveterans (30.5% women). MEASURES: Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale adapted to assess SI and SA relative to age (less than 18 y, 18 y and above) and military service (pre-, during, and post-military). RESULTS: Veteran men experienced significantly higher odds of lifetime SI compared with nonveteran men (odds ratio=1.13), whereas veteran women experienced significantly higher odds of lifetime SA compared with nonveteran women (odds ratio=1.35). SI and SA onset varied considerably for veterans and nonveterans and by gender within veteran groups. CONCLUSIONS: Veterans and nonveterans appear to differ in periods of risk for SI and SA. Furthermore, gender differences in SI and SA onset for veterans highlight the need for gender-informed veteran suicide prevention strategies that target periods of highest risk.

Suicide among veterans with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to estimate the risk of death by suicide for those with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) seeking care within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). METHODS: This was a retrospective, cohort study. Extended Cox regression models were used to compare the hazard of suicide between the ALS and the unexposed groups. RESULTS: The hazard of suicide was 3.98 times higher for those with ALS than for those without (95% confidence interval [CI] , 2.64-6.00; P < .0001). After adjusting for covariates, those with ALS remained at increased risk (hazard ratio, 3.48; 95% CI, 2.31-5.24; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Among those seeking care in the VHA, individuals with ALS are at increased risk for dying by suicide. Additional suicide prevention efforts, including strategies for reducing access to lethal means, are warranted.

Suicide After Stroke in the United States Veteran Health Administration Population.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate risk for suicide among veterans with a history of stroke, seeking care within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), we analyzed existing clinical data. DESIGN: This retrospective cohort study was approved and performed in accordance with the local Institutional Review Board. Veterans were identified via the VHA's Corporate Data Warehouse. Initial eligibility criteria included confirmed veteran status and at least 90 days of VHA utilization between fiscal years 2001-2015. Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the association between history of stroke and suicide. Among those veterans who died by suicide, the association between history of stroke and method of suicide was also investigated. SETTING: VHA. PARTICIPANTS: Veterans with at least 90 days of VHA utilization between fiscal years 2001-2015 (N=1,647,671). Data from these 1,647,671 veterans were analyzed (1,405,762 without stroke and 241,909 with stroke). INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Suicide and method of suicide. RESULTS: The fully adjusted model, which controlled for age, sex, mental health diagnoses, mild traumatic brain injury, and modified Charlson/Deyo Index (stroke-related diagnoses excluded), demonstrated a hazard ratio of 1.13 (95% confidence interval, 1.02-1.25; P=.02). The majority of suicides in both cohorts was by firearm, and a significantly larger proportion of suicides occurred by firearm in the group with stroke than the cohort without (81.2% vs 76.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that veterans with a history of stroke are at increased risk for suicide, specifically by firearm, compared with veterans without a history of stroke. Increased efforts are needed to address the mental health needs and lethal means safety of veterans with a history of stroke, with the goal of improving function and decreasing negative psychiatric outcomes, such as suicide.

Concussion Symptom Treatment and Education Program: A Feasibility Study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility and potential benefits of a manualized, brief cognitive-behavioral therapy-based intervention program for children and adolescents with persistent postconcussive symptoms. SETTING: Two outpatient pediatric concussion programs in the United States. PARTICIPANTS: Patients aged 8 to 17 years who sustained concussions between 2 and 12 months prior to enrollment. DESIGN: Pre-/postretrospective study. MAIN MEASURES: SCAT-3; HBI; PedsQL 4.0 Generic Core Scales; and RCADS. RESULTS: Thirty children and adolescents completed the treatment program. Self- and parent-reported postconcussive symptoms, quality of life, and internalizing symptoms significantly improved with treatment. Mixed-effects models revealed a significant decline in self-reported postconcussive symptoms across treatment sessions, a = -2.07, SE = 0.25, P < .001. The largest change occurred between sessions 2 and 3, following the session focusing on concussion psychoeducation and sleep hygiene (estimated mean change between sessions 2 and 3 = -4.72, P < .0001). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that a 6-session manualized cognitive behavioral intervention is feasible to initiate in an outpatient clinic 1 to 12 months following a pediatric mild traumatic brain injury. With a manualized format, clinicians at most levels of training should be able to implement this treatment manual and flexibly adapt as needed when working with children and adolescents who are experiencing delayed symptom recovery following concussion.

Met and unmet rehabilitative needs among pediatric patients with moderate to severe TBI.

OBJECTIVE: Estimate the probability of met and unmet post-acute rehabilitative needs among pediatric patients with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). PARTICIPANTS: One hundred and thirty children who received acute and post-acute rehabilitative services at a hospital for children. METHODS: Prospective, observational study. Recommended service needs (1. Medical, 2. Psychological, 3. Cognitive/Educational, 4. Medically Based Therapies, 5. Community/Caregiver/Family Support) were collected at discharge and 1, 6, 12, and 18 months post-injury. Probabilities were estimated using nonlinear logistic regression models. The impact of age at discharge was also assessed. RESULTS: Over time, the estimated probability of need for Medical, Medically Based Therapies, and Cognitive/Educational services were consistently high. Whereas unmet need for Medical and Medically Based Therapies were low, unmet need for Cognitive/Educational services were relatively high. Need for Psychological and Community/Caregiver/Family Support services increased in the months post-discharge, as did the probability of unmet need. Older age at discharge was associated with need for Psychological and Community/Caregiver Family Support services. CONCLUSIONS: Findings support the long-term monitoring of need for Psychological and Community/Caregiver/Family Support services among children with moderate to severe TBI. Future research to explore the etiology of unmet needs is warranted.

Characteristics of nonsuicidal self-injury among veterans.

OBJECTIVE: The current study aimed to (a) assess basic nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) characteristics using a validated clinical interview among a sample of veterans not recruited for specific diagnostic or environmental criteria and (b) examine the relation between NSSI and medical severity of prior suicide attempts (SAs) among veterans. DESIGN: We conducted secondary data analyses among a combined sample of veterans (N = 165) from two parent studies conducted at a large VA Medical Center that implemented identical recruitment protocols. No psychiatric criteria were utilized for inclusion or exclusion purposes. RESULTS: Approximately 16% of participants reported NSSI history and almost 21% reported SA history. NSSI history was associated with probability of prior SA but not the medical severity of prior SA. CONCLUSIONS: NSSI is a prevalent concern among veterans and is associated with probability of SA. It remains unclear whether prior NSSI is associated with more medically serious SA in this population.