Mental Health Research Briefs

2011

Addressing Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury Among Servicemembers and Their Families: Existing Department of Defense Programs and Options for Improvement — 2011

Provides overviews and detailed descriptions of 211 programs currently sponsored or funded by the Department of Defense to address psychological health and traumatic brain injury, along with recommendations to maximize program effectiveness.

Better Understanding the Needs of Veterans in New York State — 2011

Shares results of a study assessing the broad array of challenges that returning veterans face at the state level, including a range of mental health concerns, problems finding jobs commensurate with their skills, and complicated health care systems.

The Cost and Quality of VA Mental Health Services — 2011

The quality of mental health care delivered by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is generally as good or better than care delivered by private health plans, although it falls short of the high standards set in VA guidelines.

Helping Children Cope with Violence and Trauma: A School-Based Program That Works — 2010

School-based program helps children cope with violence

The War Within: Suicide Prevention in the U.S. Military — 2011

The increasing number of suicides is causing concern in the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). Suicide-prevention programs in DoD and across the services have some (but not all) of the characteristics of comprehensive programs.

What Is the Impact of Using Evidence-Based Treatments for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Depression in Veterans? — 2011

If all veterans suffering from major depression and posttraumatic stress disorder were to receive evidence-based treatments, policy simulations suggest that cost savings generated would be $138 million (15 percent) over two years.

2010

The Effects of Multiple Anxiety Disorders on Patient Functioning and Well-Being — 2010

Compares differences in functioning for patients with one or more anxiety disorders. There were few differences in functioning for patients with only one anxiety disorder. The burden of disability grew as the number of anxiety disorders increased.

How Fare the Displaced and Returned Residents of New Orleans? Results of an Innovative Pilot Survey — 2010

The Displaced New Orleans Residents Pilot Study shows that it is possible to study this hard-to-survey population to determine rates of return and mental illness among residents who experienced Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath.

Studies' Estimates of PTSD Prevalence Rates for Returning Service Members Vary Widely — 2010

Summarizes analyses of existing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) studies for war zone veterans, finding that the prevalence estimates vary widely and are linked to the use of different PTSD diagnostic definitions and divergent study samples.

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

Presents findings from the Teen Depression Awareness Project, which explored how depression affects teens, the factors that influence teens' readiness to seek treatment for depression, and the barriers that teens and parents face when seeking care.

What Are the Long-Term Economic Costs of Psychological Problems During Childhood? — 2010

Examines the lifetime economic damages caused by childhood psychological problems.

2009

Assessing Parolees' Health Care Needs and Potential Access to Health Care Services in California — 2009

California parolees' health care, mental health care, and drug- and alcohol-treatment needs, as well as where parolees go when they return to counties, place significant demands on counties' safety-net resources and on their ability meet those needs.

Expanding Access to Mental Health Counselors Under TRICARE — 2009

Evaluates a one-year trial in which two administrative requirements governing the provision of mental health care under TRICARE (the health care system for military personnel) were lifted, focusing on whether this increased access to such care.

Improving Mental Health Care for Returning Veterans — 2009

Identifies barriers to mental health care access for military servicemembers and veterans in community settings.

Making It Easier for School Staff to Help Traumatized Students — 2009

Describes Support for Students Exposed to Trauma (SSET), a cognitive-behavioral program intended to be delivered in schools by teachers or school counselors rather than clinical personnel.

2008

The Behavioral Health Care System Is Poised for Change — 2008

This fact sheet provides an overview of the Institute of Medicine's quality improvement framework for behavioral health care and highlights current quality improvement projects that incorporate the framework's recommendations.

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

This research brief summarizes a comprehensive RAND study of the mental health and cognitive needs of returning servicemembers and veterans of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

Out of the Ivory Tower, Into the Real World: Examples of Street-Smart Community Health Research — 2008

Discusses the potential of community-based participatory research (CBPR) to reduce the burden of chronic health problems on poor and minority neighborhoods and describes three successful CBPR programs.

The Societal Promise of Improving Care for Depression: Nine Years Out — 2008

This research highlight updates the cumulative effects of a study of a collaborative care-based quality-improvement treatment program for depression after nine years.

2007

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

This research brief assesses the effects of the government-required Federal Employees Health Benefits Program's provision of behavioral health benefits equal to its general health benefits on insurers and consumers' use of services and spending.