STRONG STAR and the Consortium to Alleviate PTSD: Shaping the future of combat PTSD and related conditions in military and veteran populations.

The STRONG STAR Consortium (South Texas Research Organizational Network Guiding Studies on Trauma and Resilience) and the Consortium to Alleviate PTSD are interdisciplinary and multi-institutional research consortia focused on the detection, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of combat-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and comorbid conditions in military personnel and veterans. This manuscript outlines the consortia's state-of-the-science collaborative research model and how this can be used as a roadmap for future trauma-related research. STRONG STAR was initially funded for 5 years in 2008 by the U.

Perceptions of companion dog benefits on well-being of US military veterans with HIV/AIDS.

Objectives: Patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) frequently experience psychosocial complications in addition to physical illness. Conflicting data on the value of companion dog ownership in minimizing psychosocial distress suggest the need for more research in this field. This study helps to clarify and expand upon previous research on perceived well-being among patients with HIV/AIDS, specifically as it relates to how owning dogs influences the well-being of US military veterans living with HIV/AIDS.

Cognitive efficiency is associated with endogenous cytokine levels in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

The etiology of cognitive dysfunction in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) infection is unknown. Among the possibilities is cytokine activation, which has been associated with cognitive dysfunction in other chronic conditions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between endogenous IFN-alpha, IL-6, and TNF-alpha and cognitive functioning in CHC patients.

Helplessness predicts the development of hypertension in older Mexican and European Americans.

Objective: The mechanisms by which depression is associated with an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease remain unclear. It is possible that depressive symptoms could increase the risk of hypertension, which in turn could predispose to cardiovascular disease. The goal of this study was to explore whether individual depressive symptoms might predict the incidence of hypertension in a cohort of 240 initially normotensive Mexican-American and European-American elders.

Gender differences in quality of life among cardiac patients.

Objective: Prior studies of quality of life among cardiac patients have examined mostly men. This study evaluated gender differences in quality of life and examined the degree to which social support was associated with quality of life.

Methods: A sample of 536 patients (35% women) was recruited during a 14-month period from the inpatient cardiology service of a University-based hospital.

Prevalence of executive impairment in patients seen by a psychiatry consultation service.

The prevalence of impairment of executive function among 50 medical inpatients referred for psychiatric consultation was assessed by using the Executive Interview (EXIT25) and an executive clock-drawing task (CLOX). The Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE) was also administered to assess general cognition. The percentage of patients who failed each test was calculated.