Weight Reduction Goal Achievement Among Veterans With Mental Health Diagnoses.

BACKGROUND: Despite the use of weight management programs among veterans, the impact of mental health diagnoses on weight reduction goal achievement is unknown. AIMS: We aimed to describe the prevalence and association of mental health diagnoses with a 5% weight reduction goal achievement. METHODS: Logistic regression was used to describe the association between mental health diagnoses and weight reduction goal achievement at 6, 12, and 24 months among 402 veterans enrolled in a weight management program. RESULTS: More than 43% of veterans had a mental health diagnoses, with depressive disorders, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and substance use disorders being the most prevalent. At all three times, simply having a mental health diagnosis was not associated with weight reduction goal achievement. Specific diagnoses were associated with a greater likelihood of achieving weight reduction goals at 12 months (PTSD and Drug Use Disorder) and 24 months (Anxiety Disorder and Other Mental Health Diagnosis). CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that unhealthy weight is quite common for individuals with mental health diagnoses; however, weight reduction goal achievement may be equally likely for those with and without mental health diagnoses. The prevalence of mental health diagnoses among veterans seeking weight reduction suggests that psychiatric nurses should be aware of this common comorbidity.

Technology and rural mental health.

In addition to the specific and pervasive rural issues of isolation and suitability of services, the rural mental health system faces many of the same problems as the health system in general: access and increasing costs. The introduction of technology adds the unknown dimensions of acceptability and feasibility. Technology has the potential to decrease the gap in services and improve education, support, and connectedness between the client and the provider. As an alternative to traditional face-to-face contact for those in rural and geographically dispersed areas, the Internet potentially can bridge the disparities in health care access for rural mental health services. With an improved understanding based on research, demonstration studies of model applications, and evidence of outcomes, the emerging technologies can serve as tools to achieve the major goals of preventing, assessment, and treating serious mental illnesses in the rural communities with less barriers and stigma.