M. Audrey Burnam

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Senior Behavioral Scientist
Santa Monica Office

Education

Ph.D. in social psychology, University of Texas at Austin; B.A. in psychology, University of Arizona

Overview

Biography

Audrey Burnam is a senior behavioral scientist at the RAND Corporation. She has been conducting mental health and substance abuse research for more than 25 years and has directed studies on the epidemiology of mental health and substance abuse problems and on delivery of services for persons with these problems. Relevant research includes an experimental evaluation of integrated mental health and substance abuse services for homeless persons with serious mental illness; an evaluation of benefit parity for mental health and substance abuse benefits as part of the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program; a review of state initiatives to integrate mental health and substances abuse services for those with serious mental illness; and case studies to understand the role of state leadership and policies in implementation of evidence-based practices for treatment of serious mental illness, including co-occurring mental and substance abuse disorders. Burnam received her Ph.D. in social psychology from the University of Texas at Austin.

Research Focus

Previous Positions

Manager, Behavioral and Social Sciences Group; Director, Center for Research in Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health, RAND Health; Codirector, RAND Drug Policy Research Center

Recent Projects

  • Integrated primary and behavioral health care
  • Behavioral health benefit parity
  • Mental health care for military servicemembers and veterans
  • Treatment of teen depression in primary care settings
  • Quality of psychotherapy in usual care

Selected Publications

Burnam, M. A., Hepner, K. A., & Miranda, J., "Future research on psychotherapy practice in usual care," Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 2009

Burnam, M.A., Meredith, L.M., Tanielian, T., & Jaycox, L.H., "Mental health care for Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans," Health Affairs, 28(3):771-782, 2009

Watkins, K.E., Burnam, M.A., Orlando, M. Escarce, J.J., Huskamp, H.A., & Goldman, H.H., "The health value and cost of care for major depression," Value in Health, 12:65-72, 2009

Edelen, M.O., Burnam, M.A., Watkins, K.E., Escarce, J.J., Huscamp, H., Goldman, H.H., & Rachelefsky, G.G., "Obtaining utility estimates of the health value of commonly prescribed treatments for asthma and depression," Medical Decision Making, 28:732-750, 2008

Isett, K.R., Burnam, M.A., Coleman-Beattie B., Hyde P.S., Morrissey J.P., Magnabosco J.L., et al., "The role of state mental health authorities in managing change for the implementation of evidence-based practices," Community Mental Health Journal, 44(3):195-211, 2008

Burnam, M.A., & Watkins, K.E., "Substance abuse with mental disorders: Specialized public systems and integrated care," Health Affairs, 25(3):648-658, 2006

Joyce, G.F., Chan, K.S., Orlando M., & Burnam, M.A., "Mental health status and use of general medical services for persons with Human Immunodeficiency Virus," Medical Care, 43(8):834-839, 2005

Publications

Integrating Primary Care Into Community Behavioral Health Settings: Programs and Early Implementation Experiences - 2013

Evaluating the Impact of Prevention and Early Intervention Activities on the Mental Health of California’s Population - 2012

Assessment of Evidence-Based Psychotherapy Practices in Usual Care: Challenges, Promising Approaches, and Future Directions - 2010

Development of a Clinician Report Measure to Assess Psychotherapy for Depression in Usual Care Settings - 2010

Development of a Patient-Report Measure of Psychotherapy for Depression - 2010

Future Research on Psychotherapy Practice in Usual Care - 2010

The Teen Depression Awareness Project: Building an Evidence Base for Improving Teen Depression Care - 2010

Usual Care Psychotherapy for Depression in a Large Managed Behavioral Health Organization - 2010

Impact of Teen Depression on Academic, Social, and Physical Functioning - 2009

Improving Mental Health Care for Returning Veterans - 2009

Improving Treatment Seeking Among Adolescents with Depression: Understanding Readiness for Treatment - 2009

Mental Health Care for Iraq and Afghanistan War Veterans - 2009

Perceived Barriers to Treatment for Adolescent Depression - 2009

Racial/Ethnic Differences in Teen and Parent Perspectives Toward Depression Treatment - 2009

The Health Value and Cost of Care for Major Depression - 2009

Invisible Wounds: Mental Health and Cognitive Care Needs of America's Returning Veterans - 2008

Invisible Wounds of War: Psychological and Cognitive Injuries, Their Consequences, and Services to Assist Recovery - 2008

Invisible Wounds of War: Summary and Recommendations for Addressing Psychological and Cognitive Injuries - 2008

Obtaining Utility Estimates of the Health Value of Commonly Prescribed Treatments for Asthma and Depression - 2008

Behavioral Health Parity: Consequences for Federal Employee Health Plans - 2007

Impact of Full Mental Health and Substance Abuse Parity for Children in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program - 2007

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Issues Among People with HIV: Lessons from HCSUS - 2007

Behavioral Health Insurance Parity for Federal Employees - 2006

Disparities in Care for HIV Patients: Results of the HCSUS Study - 2006

Health Plans Respond to Parity: Managing Behavioral Health Care in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program - 2006

Integrating Treatment for People with Co-Occurring Mental Health and Substance Abuse Disorders in Public Systems of Care - 2006

State Efforts to Improve Practice and Policy for Individuals with Co-Occurring Mental and Addictive Disorders - 2006

Substance Abuse with Mental Disorders: Specialized Public Systems and Integrated Care - 2006

Identification of and Guidance for Problem Drinking By General Medical Providers: Results from a National Survey - 2005

Mental Health Status and Use of General Medical Services for Person with Human Immunodeficiency Virus - 2005

Review of Treatment Recommendations for Persons with a Co-Occurring Affective or Anxiety and Substance Use Disorder - 2005

Selecting Performance Measures By Consensus: An Appropriate Extension of the Delphi Method? - 2005

State Activities to Improve Service Delivery Systems for Individuals with Co-Occurring Mental and Addictive Disorders - 2005

A Cross-Lagged Model of Psychiatric Problems and Health-Related Quality of Life Among a National Sample of HIV-Positive Adults - 2004

Abuse in the Close Relationships of People with HIV - 2004

Emotional and Behavioral Consequences of Bioterrorism: Planning a Public Health Response - 2004

Evaluation of Parity in the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program: Final Report - 2004

Psychosocial Mediators of Antiretroviral Nonadherence in HIV-positive Adults with Substance Use and Mental Health Problems - 2004

The Course of Depression in Adult Outpatients: Results from the Medical Outcomes Study - 2004

The Relationship Between Type of Mental Health Provider and Met and Unmet Mental Health Needs in a Nationally Representative Sample of HIV-positive Patients - 2004

Combination Antiretroviral Therapy and Improvements in Mental Health: Results from a Nationally Representative Sample of Persons Undergoing Care for HIV in the United States - 2003

Substance Use and High-Risk Sex Among People with HIV: A Comparison Across Exposure Groups - 2003

Substance Use and Mental Health Correlates of Nonadherence to Antiretroviral Medications in a Sample of Patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection - 2003

The Role of Schools in Meeting Community Needs During Bioterrorism - 2003

Underdiagnosis of Depression in HIV: Who Are We Missing? - 2003

Use of Psychotropic Medications Among HIV-infected Patients in the United States - 2003

Access to Inpatient or Residential Substance Abuse Treatment among Homeless Adults With Alcohol or Other Drug Use Disorders - 2002

Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Care for Uninsured and Insured Adults - 2002

An Empirical Comparison of Substance and Alcohol Dependence Patterns in the Homeless in Madrid (Spain) and Los Angeles (CA, USA) - 2002

Managed Behavioral Health Care: An Instrument to Characterize Critical Elements of Public Sectors Programs - 2002

Predictors of Contact with Public Service Sectors Among Homeless Adults with and Without Alcohol and Other Drug Disorders - 2002

RAND Review: Vol. 26, No. 2, Summer 2002 - 2002

Re-estimating the Prevalence of Psychiatric Disorders in a Nationally Representative Sample of Persons Receiving Care for HIV: Results from the HIV Cost and Services Utilization Study - 2002

The Prevalence of Alcohol Consumption and Heavy Drinking Among People with HIV in the United States: Results from the HIV Cost and Services Utilization Study - 2002

Vulnerability Factors for Homelessness Associated with Substance Dependence in a Community Sample of Homeless Adults - 2002

A National Survey of Care for Persons with Co-Occurring Mental and Substance Use Disorders - 2001

Brief Screening of Psychiatric Disorders Among a National Sample of HIV-positive Adults: Concordance Between the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) and the CIDI Short Form (CIDI-SF) - 2001

Changes in Mental Health and Service Use After Termination of SSI Benefits - 2001

Changes in Subjective Quality of Life Among Homeless Adults Who Obtain Housing: A Prospective Examination - 2001

Effects of Drug Abuse and Mental Disorders on Use and Type of Antiretroviral Therapy in HIV-infected Persons - 2001

Psychiatric Disorders and Drug Use Among Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Adults in the United States - 2001

Use of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment Services Among Adults with HIV in the United States - 2001

Validation of the Brief Instrumental Functioning Scale in a Homeless Population - 2001

Violence Exposure Among School-Age Children in Foster Care: Relationship to Distress Symptoms - 2001

Are People With Mental Illness Getting the Help They Need? New Findings About Parity Laws, Insurance Coverage, and Access to Care - 2000

Impact of Psychiatric Conditions on Health-Related Quality of Life in Persons with HIV Infection - 2000

Pathways to Homelessness Among the Mentally Ill - 2000

Quality of Life of Homeless Persons with Mental Illness: Results from the Course-of-Homelessness Study - 2000

Equity in Managed Care for Mental Disorders - 1999

National Probability Samples in Studies of Low-Prevalence Diseases - 1999

The Design of Healthcare for Communities: A Study of Health Care Delivery for Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Conditions - 1999

Utilization of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Among Homeless Adults in Los Angeles - 1999

Differential Patterns of Mental Disorders Among the Homeless in Madrid (Spain) and Los Angeles (USA) - 1998

Improving Block Grant Allocation Formulas: More Refined Measures Would Shift Substance Abuse Funds to Smaller, More Rural States - 1998

Measuring the Quality of Outpatient Treatment for Schizophrenia - 1998

Assessing the Effectiveness of Mental Health Care in Routine Clinical Practice: Characteristics, Development, and Uses of Patient Outcomes Modules - 1997

Measuring outcomes of care for substance use and mental disorders - 1997

Review and Evaluation of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Block Grant Allotment Formula - 1997

An Experimental Evaluation of Residential and Nonresidential Treatment for Dually Diagnosed Homeless Adults - 1996

Enumerating Homeless People: Alternative Strategies and Their Consequences - 1996

Objective Life Circumstances and Life Satisfaction: Results from the Course of Homelessness Study - 1996

The New Fiscal Federalism and the Social Safety Net: A View from California - 1996

Evaluation of Treatment Options for the Dually Diagnosed: Final Report - 1995

Implementation of residential and nonresidential treatment for the dually diagnosed homeless - 1995

Severity of depression in prepaid and fee-for-service general medical and mental health specialty practices - 1995

Subthreshold depression and depressive disorder : clinical characteristics of general medical and mental health specialty outpatients - 1995

Do Depressed Patients in Different Treatment Settings Have Different Levels of Well-Being and Functioning? - 1994

Prevalence of comorbid alcohol disorder and consumption in medically ill and depressed patients - 1994

Treatment for the dually diagnosed homeless : program models and implementation experience : Los Angeles - 1994

Outcomes for adult outpatients with depression under prepaid or fee-for-service financing - 1993

Army Families and Soldier Readiness - 1992

Reasons for Drinking, Alcohol Use, and Alcoholism Among Mexican Americans and Non-Hispanic Whites - 1992

Caring for Depression in America: Lessons Learned from Early Findings of the Medical Outcomes Study - 1991

Gender Differences in Depression Detection: A Comparison of Clinician Diagnosis and Standardized Assessment - 1991

How the Medical Comorbidity of Depressed Patients Differs Across Health Care Settings: Results from the Medical Outcomes Study - 1991

Alcohol Use and Depressive Symptoms Among Mexican Americans and Non-Hispanic Whites - 1990

Immigration, Stress, and Depressive Symptoms in a Mexican-American Community - 1990

Acculturation and the Probability of Use of Health Services By Mexican Americans - 1989

Affective, Substance Use, and Anxiety Disorders in Persons with Arthritis, Diabetes, Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure, or Chronic Lung Conditions - 1989

Chronic Medical Conditions in a Sample of the General Population with Anxiety, Affective, and Substance Use Disorders - 1989

Resistance to Sexual Assault: Who Resists and What Happens? - 1989

The Functioning and Well-Being of Depressed Patients: Results from the Medical Outcomes Study - 1989

Alcoholism Among Homeless Adults in the Inner City of Los Angeles - 1988

Psychiatric Disorder and Limitations in Physical Functioning in a Sample of the Los Angeles General Population - 1988

Review of California's Program for the Homeless Mentally Disabled: Executive Summary - 1988

Review of California's Program for the Homeless Mentally Disabled - 1988

Sexual Assault History and Use of Health and Mental Health Services - 1988

Sexual Assault and Mental Disorders in a Community Population - 1988

The Epidemiology of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in Five US Communities - 1988

The Prevalence of Specific Psychiatric Disorders Among Homeless Individuals in the Inner City of Los Angeles - 1988

Six-month Prevalence of Specific Psychiatric Disorders Among Mexican Americans and Non-Hispanic Whites in Los Angeles - 1987

The Prevalence of Childhood Sexual Assault: The Los Angeles Epidemiologic Catchment Area Project - 1987

Validity of the H-HANES Acculturation Measure for Mexican Americans - 1987