Differential Impact of Homelessness on Glycemic Control in Veterans with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Veterans with evidence of homelessness have high rates of mental health and substance abuse disorders, but chronic medical conditions such as diabetes are also prevalent. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine the impact of homelessness on glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. DESIGN: Longitudinal analysis of a retrospective cohort. SUBJECTS: A national cohort of 1,263,906 Veterans with type 2 diabetes. Subjects with evidence of homelessness were identified using a combination of diagnostic and administrative codes. MAIN MEASURES: Odds for poor glycemic control using hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) cutoff values of 8 % and 9 %. Homeless defined as a score based on the number of indicator variables for homelessness within a veterans chart. KEY RESULTS: Veterans with evidence of homelessness had a significantly greater annual mean HbA1C ≥ 8 (32.6 % vs. 20.43 %) and HbA1C ≥ 9 (21.4 % vs. 9.9 %), tended to be younger (58 vs. 67 years), were more likely to be non-Hispanic black (39.1 %), divorced (43 %) or never married (34 %), to be urban dwelling (88.8 %), and to have comorbid substance abuse (46.7 %), depression (42.3 %), psychoses (39.7 %), liver disease (18.8 %), and fluid/electrolyte disorders (20.4 %), relative to non-homeless veterans (all p < 0.0001). Homelessness was modeled as an ordinal variable that scored the number of times a homelessness indicator was found in the Veterans medical record. We observed a significant interaction between homelessness and race/ethnicity on the odds of poor glycemic control. Homelessness, across all racial-ethnic groups, was associated with increased odds of uncontrolled diabetes at a cut-point of 8 % and 9 % for hemoglobin A1C ; however, the magnitude of the association was greater in non-Hispanic whites [8 %, OR 1.55 (1.47;1.63)] and Hispanics [8 %, OR 2.11 (1.78;2.51)] than in non-Hispanic blacks [8 %, OR 1.22 (1.15;1.28)]. CONCLUSIONS: Homelessness is a significant risk factor for uncontrolled diabetes in Veterans, especially among non-Hispanic white and Hispanic patients. While efforts to engage homeless patients in primary care services have had some success in recent years, these data suggest that broader efforts targeting management of diabetes and other chronic medical conditions remain warranted.

Racial/Ethnic Differences in Combat- and Non-Combat-Associated Traumatic Brain Injury Severity in the Veterans Health Administration: 2004-2010.

OBJECTIVES: We examined the association between traumatic brain injury (TBI) severity and combat exposure by race/ethnicity. METHODS: We estimated logit models of the fully adjusted association of combat exposure with TBI severity in separate race/ethnicity models for a national cohort of 132 995 veterans with TBI between 2004 and 2010. RESULTS: Of veterans with TBI, 25.8% had served in a combat zone. Mild TBI increased from 11.5% to 40.3%, whereas moderate or severe TBI decreased from 88.5% to 59.7%. Moderate or severe TBI was higher in non-Hispanic Blacks (80.0%) and Hispanics (89.4%) than in non-Hispanic Whites (71.9%). In the fully adjusted all-race/ethnicity model, non-Hispanic Blacks (1.44; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.37, 1.52) and Hispanics (1.47; 95% CI = 1.26, 1.72) had higher odds of moderate or severe TBI than did non-Hispanic Whites. However, combat exposure was associated with higher odds of mild TBI in non-Hispanic Blacks (2.48; 95% CI = 2.22, 2.76) and Hispanics (3.42; 95% CI = 1.84, 6.35) than in non-Hispanic Whites (2.17; 95% CI = 2.09, 2.26). CONCLUSIONS: Research is needed to understand racial differences in the effect of combat exposure on mild TBI and on interventions to prevent TBI across severity levels.

Delivery of self training and education for stressful situations (DESTRESS-PC): a randomized trial of nurse assisted online self-management for PTSD in primary care.

OBJECTIVE: This randomized controlled trial examined the effectiveness of a nurse assisted online cognitive-behavioral self-management intervention for war-related posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), compared to optimized usual primary care PTSD Treatment (OUC) to reduce PTSD symptoms. METHOD: Participants were 80 veterans of recent military conflicts with PTSD as assessed by the PTSD Checklist (PCL) seeking primary care treatment at one of three Veterans Affairs (VA) and four Army clinics. DESTRESS-PC consisted of logins to a secure website three times per week for 6 weeks with monitoring by a study nurse. All participants received nurse care management in the form of phone check-ins every two weeks and feedback to their primary care providers. Blinded raters assessed outcomes 6, 12, and 18 weeks post-randomization. RESULTS: DESTRESS-PC was associated with a significantly greater decrease in PTSD symptoms compared to OUC (F(3, 186)=3.72, p=.012). The effect was largest at the 12-week assessment (∆PCL=12.6±16.6 versus 5.7±12.5, p<0.05) with the treatment effect disappearing by the 18-week follow-up. Notably, there was a dose effect; number of logins correlated significantly with PTSD outcomes, with more logins associated with greater PTSD symptom improvement. None of the secondary outcomes (depression, anxiety, somatic symptoms, and functional status) showed statistically significant improvement; however, the treatment effect on depression approached significance (F(3, 186)=2.17, p=.093). CONCLUSIONS: DESTRESS-PC shows promise as a means of delivering effective, early PTSD treatment in primary care. Larger trials are needed.

Levels of symptom severity and functioning in four different definitions of subthreshold posttraumatic stress disorder in primary care veterans.

Four definitions of subthreshold posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were compared in 815 veterans seen in Veterans Affairs Medical Center primary care clinics. We compared PTSD Checklist (PCL) scores and Short Form 36 (SF-36) scores between participants meeting criteria for one of the subthreshold PTSD definitions (based on Schnurr, Marshall, Blanchard, or Stein) to those with and without PTSD. Using regression, those meeting subthreshold criteria by any of the four definitions had lower mental and physical health functioning and higher PCL scores relative to those without PTSD; they also had higher mental health functioning and lower PCL scores relative to those with PTSD. With SF-36 physical functioning scores, only those meeting the Stein definition differed from the group with PTSD. Thus, these definitions appear to distinguish individuals who are qualitatively different from individuals with no PTSD or with PTSD and are nearly equivalent in their ability to discriminate individuals.

Implementation of online suicide-specific training for VA providers.

OBJECTIVE: Due to the gap in suicide-specific intervention training for mental health students and professionals, e-learning is one solution to improving provider skills in the Veterans Affairs (VA) health system. This study focused on the development and evaluation of an equivalent e-learning alternative to the Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS) in-person training approach at a Veteran Health Affairs medical center. METHODS: The study used a multicenter, randomized, cluster, and three group design. the development of e-CAMS was an iterative process and included pilot testing. Eligible and consenting mental health providers, who completed a CAMS pre-survey, were randomized. Provider satisfaction was assessed using the standard VA evaluation of training consisting of 20 items. Two post training focus groups, divided by learning conditions, were conducted to assess practice adoption using a protocol focused on experiences with training and delivery of CAMS. RESULTS: A total of 215 providers in five sites were randomized to three conditions: 69 to e-learning, 70 to in-person, 76 to the control. The providers were primarily female, Caucasian, midlife providers. Based on frequency scores of satisfaction items, both learning groups rated the trainings positively. In focus groups representing divided by learning conditions, participants described positive reactions to CAMS training and similar individual and institutional barriers to full implementation of CAMS. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first evaluation study of a suicide-specific e-learning training within the VA. The e-CAMS appears equivalent to the in-person CAMS in terms of provider satisfaction with training and practice adoption, consistent with other comparisons of training deliveries across specialty areas. Additional evaluation of provider confidence and adoption and patient outcomes is in progress. The e-CAMS has the potential to provide ongoing training for VA and military mental health providers and serve as a tutorial for psychiatrists in preparation for specialty boards.

PTSD checklist scoring rules for elderly Veterans Affairs outpatients.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the diagnostic performance of the PTSD Checklist (PCL) for three age groups (<50, 50-64, and ≥65 years). METHODS: The PCL was compared with the Clinician Administered PTSD Scale, a gold standard for the diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder. Receiver operating characteristic curves and the corresponding area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and measures of sensitivity and specificity were used to assess the performance of and to determine optimal cutscores for the PCL across the three groups. Analyses were based on 858 randomly selected primary care patients who participated in a study conducted at four Veterans Administration medical centers. RESULTS: AUCs were high for all three age groups (87.55%-88.26%), and there were no significant differences in AUCs across age groups χ(2). Optimal cutscores, however, varied considerably: 24 for the oldest group, 34 for the middle group, and 43 for the youngest group. CONCLUSION: Recommend use of lower PCL cutscore for older Veterans Administration primary care patients.

The role of pain, functioning, and mental health in suicidality among Veterans Affairs primary care patients.

OBJECTIVES: We examined suicidality, pain, functioning, and psychiatric disorders among veterans in primary care by using both self-report and clinical measures of pain and mental health to determine correlates that might be clinically useful in primary care settings. METHODS: Data were from 884 Veterans Affairs patients enrolled in a regional 4-site cross-sectional study. Patients were administered measures that assessed functioning (including pain) and psychiatric disorders. Data were merged with medical records for clinical pain indicators. RESULTS: Overall, 9.1% (74 of 816) of patients indicated suicidal ideation, with those who were middle-aged, unemployed because of disability, had less than college education, and served in a warzone most likely to consider suicidality. Suicidal patients had worse functioning (measured by the Short Form-36) than did nonsuicidal patients in every domain, including bodily pain, and were more likely to meet criteria for a psychiatric diagnosis. However, when pain and mental health were jointly considered, only mental health (both psychiatric diagnosis and mental health functioning) was related to suicidality. CONCLUSIONS: Although providers should be alert to the possibility of suicidality in patients with pain, they should be vigilant when patients have a psychiatric disorder or poor mental health.

Post-traumatic stress disorder screening test performance in civilian primary care.

PURPOSE: we determined the test performance characteristics of four brief post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) screening tests in a civilian primary care setting. METHODS: this was a cross-sectional cohort study of adults attending a family medicine residency training clinic in the southeastern USA. Four hundred and eleven participants completed a structured telephone interview that followed an index clinic visit. Screening tests included: PTSD Symptom Checklist-Civilian Version (17 items), SPAN (four items), Breslau's scale (seven items) and Primary Care PTSD screen (PC-PTSD) (four items). A modified Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale was used to determine past month PTSD for comparison. Receiver operating characteristic analysis based on area under the curve (AUC) was used to assess diagnostic efficiency (>0.80 desired). Cut-off scores were selected to yield optimal sensitivity and specificity (>80%). RESULTS: past month PTSD was substantial (women = 35.8% and men = 20.0%; P < 0.01). AUC values were PTSD Symptom Checklist (PCL) (0.897), SPAN (0.806), Breslau's scale (0.886) and PC-PTSD (0.885). Optimal cut-scores yielded the following sensitivities and specificities: PCL (80.0% and 80.7%; cut-off = 43), SPAN (75.9% and 71.6%; cut-off = 3), Breslau's scale (84.5% and 76.4%; cut-off = 4) and PC-PTSD (85.1% and 82.0%; cut-off = 3). Overall and gender-specific screening test performances were explored. CONCLUSIONS: results confirm: (i) PTSD was common, especially among women; (ii) all four PTSD screening tests were diagnostically adequate; (iii) Two of four PTSD screening tests showed adequate sensitivity and specificity (>80%) and (iv) The PC-PTSD screening test (four items) appeared to be the best single screening test. There are few studies to establish the utility of PTSD screening tests within civilian primary care.

Preference-weighted health status of PTSD among veterans: an outcome for cost-effectiveness analysis using clinical data.

OBJECTIVE: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a highly prevalent, chronic, disabling but treatable condition. Preference-based measures (for example, health utilities) are recommended for and useful in cost-effectiveness analyses and for policy decisions because they reflect a population's valuation of the desirability of disease states. However, no such measures exist for PTSD. This study aimed to estimate preference-weighted health status associated with PTSD and common co-occurring mental disorders in a sample of veterans by transforming health-related quality-of-life data into preference-weighted health status scores (PWHS scores), develop a usable regression model to predict PWHS scores from other data sets, and compare preference-weighted health status of PTSD with that of another chronic disorder, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS: A secondary analysis was performed on data from a random sample of 808 veterans (79% male; 12% met criteria for PTSD) in four primary care clinics. Veterans responded to the PTSD Checklist (PCL), Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale, Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview, and Medical Outcomes Survey Short Form-36. RESULTS: PWHS scores were .029 lower among veterans with PTSD compared with veterans without PTSD, all else being equal. However, scores depended on PTSD severity, when the analysis controlled for other model variables. Specifically, PWHS scores dropped by .004 with a 1-unit increase in PCL scores among veterans without PTSD. Among veterans with PTSD, the reduction was .002. PTSD was associated with lower preference-weighted health status than COPD. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to estimate preference-weighted health status of persons with PTSD. These PWHS scores can be helpful in cost-effectiveness studies of PTSD treatments.

Delayed-onset post-traumatic stress disorder among war veterans in primary care clinics.

BACKGROUND: Only limited empirical data support the existence of delayed-onset post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). AIMS: To expand our understanding of delayed-onset PTSD prevalence and phenomenology. METHOD: A cross-sectional, epidemiological design (n = 747) incorporating structured interviews to obtain relevant information for analyses in a multisite study of military veterans. RESULTS: A small percentage of veterans with identified current PTSD (8.3%, 7/84), current subthreshold PTSD (6.9%, 2/29), and lifetime PTSD only (5.4%, 2/37) met criteria for delayed onset with PTSD symptoms initiating more than 6 months after the index trauma. Altogether only 0.4% (3/747) of the entire sample had current PTSD with delayed-onset symptoms developing more than 1 year after trauma exposure, and no PTSD symptom onset was reported more than 6 years post-trauma. CONCLUSIONS: Retrospective reports of veterans reveal that delayed-onset PTSD (current, subthreshold or lifetime) is extremely rare 1 year post-trauma, and there was no evidence of PTSD symptom onset 6 or more years after trauma exposure.

Patient factors relating to detection of posttraumatic stress disorder in Department of Veterans Affairs primary care settings.

We examined the impact of patient-level factors on provider recognition of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Analyses were based on a random sample of 1,079 consenting patients who had an outpatient visit at any of four southeastern Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals in 1999. We collected data on PTSD symptoms, sociodemographics, functional status, medical record diagnoses, and independent PTSD diagnostic assessments for 888 patients. Complete and usable data were available for 819 patients. A total of 98 patients (12%) met criteria for PTSD, and of these, 42 (43%) were correctly classified as such by their provider. Results indicate that age (50-64), war-zone service, worse functioning on the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey role emotional subscale, a diagnosis of musculoskeletal pain, a greater percentage of persistent reexperiencing or avoidance/numbing symptoms, and a previously diagnosed substance use disorder were all independently related to provider recognition of PTSD. Knowledge of these factors may help inform providers and direct improved screening and case finding.

Performance characteristics of the posttraumatic stress disorder checklist and SPAN in Veterans Affairs primary care settings.

BACKGROUND: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a treatable disorder, and individuals with this condition may benefit from early detection. Many people with PTSD are not aware of its symptoms and do not seek treatment, making a brief and targeted screening program a worthwhile endeavor. For this reason, research aimed at improving screening instruments could yield substantial benefits. OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this research was to assess the diagnostic performance of two popular PTSD screening assessments, the PTSD Checklist (PCL) and the SPAN, in a Veterans Affairs (VA) primary care setting. Additionally, we compared the screening performance of these two assessments by sex and race. METHODS: The PCL and SPAN were compared with a gold standard, the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used in conjunction with sensitivity and specificity measures to assess the performance of each screening assessment. These analyses are based on a large database (n=1076) that was derived from a multisite cross-sectional study conducted at four southeastern VA medical centers. RESULTS: Results for the PCL support cutoff scores lower than those previously published, whereas results for the SPAN support the previously recommended cutoff score of 5 (sensitivity of 73.68% and specificity of 81.99%). We found no significant difference in areas under the curve (AUCs) by sex and by race between the PCL and SPAN. We did find that there was a highly significant difference (P<.0006) in overall diagnostic ability (as measured by the AUC) between the PCL (AUC=0.882) and SPAN (AUC=0.837), making the PCL the preferred screening tool, unless brevity is essential. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians and researchers should consider lower cutoff scores for the PCL, but the originally suggested cutoff score for the SPAN is appropriate.

Group visits: promoting adherence to diabetes guidelines.

BACKGROUND: Current diabetes management guidelines offer blueprints for providers, yet type 2 diabetes control is often poor in disadvantaged populations. The group visit is a new treatment modality originating in managed care for efficient service delivery to patients with chronic health problems. Group visits offer promise for delivering care to diabetic patients, as visits are lengthier and can be more frequent, more organized, and more educational. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of group visits on clinical outcomes, concordance with 10 American Diabetes Association (ADA) guidelines [American Diabetes Association, Diabetes Care, 28:S4-36, 2004] and 3 United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) cancer screens [U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, http://www.ahrq.gov/clinic/uspstf/resource.htm, 2003]. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A 12-month randomized controlled trial of 186 diabetic patients comparing care in group visits with care in the traditional patient-physician dyad. Clinical outcomes (HbA1c, blood pressure [BP], lipid profiles) were assessed at 6 and 12 months and quality of care measures (adherence to 10 ADA guidelines and 3 USPSTF cancer screens) at 12 months. RESULTS: At both measurement points, HbA1c, BP, and lipid levels did not differ significantly for patients attending group visits versus those in usual care. At 12 months, however, patients receiving care in group visits exhibited greater concordance with ADA process-of-care indicators (p < .0001) and higher screening rates for cancers of the breast (80 vs. 68%, p = .006) and cervix (80 vs 68%, p = .019). CONCLUSIONS: Group visits can improve the quality of care for diabetic patients, but modifications to the content and style of group visits may be necessary to achieve improved clinical outcomes.

Further evaluating the acceptability of group visits in an uninsured or inadequately insured patient population with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to evaluate perceptions of care delivered through group visits to disadvantaged patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: One hundred eighty-six patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes were randomly assigned to receive care in group visits or usual care for 12 months. Their perceptions of the care they received were measured at baseline and 6 and 12 months by the Primary Care Assessment Tool (PCAT), the Diabetes-Specific Locus of Control (DLC) survey, and the Trust in Physician Scale (TPS). RESULTS: Compared to patients in usual care, group visit patients' PCAT scores were higher in the domains of ongoing care (P = .001), community orientation (P < .0001), and cultural competence (P = .022). In addition, group patients had higher scores for the Powerful-Other Health Professional subscale of the DLC survey (P = .010). CONCLUSIONS: Patients assigned to group visits had generally more positive perceptions about their care in the areas of ongoing care, community orientation of care, and cultural competence of care than did those in usual care. The perception that one's health professional is powerful, however, has been associated with a reluctance of patients to make medication changes on their own in previous studies. These findings suggest the need for modification in the way that group visits are conducted to empower and activate patients while still delivering continuous, culturally competent, and community-oriented care.

Mental Health Problems in Primary Care: Progress in North America

Background and Objectives: Research in the last decade has acknowledged that primary care plays a pivotal role in the delivery of mental health services. The aim of this paper is to review major accomplishments, emerging trends, and continuing gaps concerning mental health problems in primary care in North America. Methods: Literature from North America was reviewed and synthesized. Results: Major accomplishments include: the development and adoption of a number of clinical guidelines specifically for mental health conditions in primary care, the acceptance of the chronic care model as a framework for treating depression in primary care, and the clear adoption of pharmacologic approaches as the predominant mode for treating depression and anxiety. Emerging trends include: the use of non-physician facilitators as care managers in the treatment of depression in primary care, increasing use of technology in the assessment and treatment of mental health conditions in primary care, and dissemination and implementation of integrated mental health treatment approaches. Lingering issues include: the difficulty in moving beyond problem identification and initiation of treatment to sustaining evidence-based treatments, agreement on a common metric to evaluate outcomes, and the stigma still associated with mental illness. Conclusion: Though there now exists a solid and growing evidence base for the delivery of mental health services in primary care, there are still significant challenges which must be overcome in order to make further advances (AU)

Amlodipine reduces blood pressure and headache frequency in cocaine-dependent outpatients.

Blood pressure and headache frequency were evaluated in normotensive male and female cocaine-dependent patients (N=43) participating in a placebo-controlled, double-blind trial of amlodipine for the treatment of cocaine dependence. Amlodipine produced a significant reduction in both systolic (p=0.04) and diastolic (p=0.01) blood pressures without producing dizziness or faintness. Placebo subjects had about three times the frequency of headaches compared to the amlodipine-treated subjects (p=0.004). The high frequency of headaches reported by cocaine-dependent individuals was significantly reduced by amlodipine and may reflect improved cerebrovascular tone.