COVID-19 mortality among veterans with serious mental illness in the veterans health administration.

Objective: Persons with serious mental illness (SMI: schizophrenia-spectrum disorders, bipolar disorder) experience increased risk of mortality after contracting COVID-19 based on the results of several international evaluations. However, information about COVID-19 mortality risk among patients with SMI in the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has been limited, precluding identification of protective factors. The current evaluation was conducted to assess COVID-19 mortality risk among VHA patients with SMI and to evaluate potential protective factors in mitigating mortality risk following a positive COVID-19 diagnosis.

Association of PTSD with COVID-19 testing and infection in the Veterans Health Administration.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) risk factors, such as hypertension and obesity. Associations between PTSD and COVID-19 outcomes may affect Veterans Health Administration (VA) services, as PTSD occurs at higher rates among veterans than the general population. While previous research has identified the potential for increased PTSD prevalence resulting from COVID-19 as a public health concern, no known research examines the effect of pre-existing PTSD on COVID-19 test-seeking behavior or infection.

Neuropsychiatric Symptoms and Caregiver Burden in Individuals With Alzheimer's Disease: The TEAM-AD VA Cooperative Study.

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) in mild-to-moderate Alzheimer disease (AD) and their association with caregiver burden.

Methods: Secondary analyses of baseline data from the Trial of Vitamin E and Memantine in Alzheimer's Disease (TEAM-AD) (N=613). Neuropsychiatric Inventory were used to measure severity of NPS and caregiver activity survey to measure caregiver burden.

Measuring informed consent capacity in an Alzheimer's disease clinical trial.

Introduction: Accurately and efficiently determining a participant's capacity to consent to research is critically important to protect the rights of patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Methods: Understanding of the informed consent document was assessed in 613 community-dwelling patients with mild-to-moderate AD enrolled in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Associations were examined between clinically determined capacity to consent and (1) patient demographics and clinical characteristics and (2) the Informed Consent Questionnaire (ICQ), an objective measurement of a participant's factual understanding and perceived understanding.

Characteristics and Incidence of Chronic Illness in Community-Dwelling Predominantly Male U.S. Veteran Centenarians.

Objectives: To assess the incidence of chronic illness and its effect on veteran centenarians.

Design: Retrospective longitudinal cohort study.

Setting: United States Veterans Affairs Corporate Data Warehouse (CDW).

The Road Ahead in Education: Milestones for Geriatric Psychiatry Subspecialty Training.

Objective: The Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Milestone Project is the next step in a series of changes revamping the system of graduate medical education. In 2013 the ACGME completed the general psychiatry milestones. The ACGME then pursued creation of milestones for accredited psychiatric subspecialty fellowships.

A Real Welcome Home: Permanent Housing for Homeless Veterans.

Ending homelessness in Washington, DC, involves the collaboration of government and community partners who can identify and address risk factors for homelessness.

PTSD is a chronic, fluctuating disorder affecting the mental quality of life in older adults.

Objectives: Examine the longitudinal course of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in older adults and its influence on mental health quality of life (MHQoL).

Design: Evaluation performed at baseline, and 3 and 6 months postrandomization as part of a longitudinal trial.

Participants And Settings: A total of 1,185 participants, with a mean (±SD) age of 73.

Exposure to trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in older veterans attending primary care: comorbid conditions and self-rated health status.

Objectives: Assess the prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptomatology and its association with health characteristics in a geriatric primary care population.

Design: Cross-sectional screening assessments during a multisite trial for the treatment of depression, anxiety, and at-risk drinking.

Setting: Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)-based primary care clinics across the United States.

Alcohol consumption among older adults in primary care.

Background: Alcohol misuse is a growing public health concern for older adults, particularly among primary care patients.

Objectives: To determine alcohol consumption patterns and the characteristics associated with at-risk drinking in a large sample of elderly primary care patients.

Design: Cross-sectional analysis of multisite screening data from 6 VA Medical Centers, 2 hospital-based health care networks, and 3 Community Health Centers.

Effect of depression treatment on depressive symptoms in older adulthood: the moderating role of pain.

Objectives: To investigate whether pain severity and interference with normal work activities moderate the effects of depression treatment on changes in depressive symptoms over time in older adults in primary care.

Design: Patient-randomized, clinical trial.

Setting: Multisite: three clinics located in Veterans Affairs Medical Centers.

Improving access to geriatric mental health services: a randomized trial comparing treatment engagement with integrated versus enhanced referral care for depression, anxiety, and at-risk alcohol use.

Objective: The authors sought to determine whether integrated mental health services or enhanced referral to specialty mental health clinics results in greater engagement in mental health/substance abuse services by older primary care patients.

Method: This multisite randomized trial included 10 sites consisting of primary care and specialty mental health/substance abuse clinics. Primary care patients 65 years old or older (N=24,930) were screened.