BACKGROUND: We sought to determine the prevalence and correlates of suicidal ideation (SI) among Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) veterans following the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) 2007 implementation of required brief SI assessments for veterans who screen positive for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. METHODS: We retrospectively identified OEF/OIF veterans screened for depression using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2) between April 2008 and September 2009 at three geographically-distinct VA Medical Centers' primary care or mental health clinics. Veteran responses to a two-item risk assessment tool (VA Pocket Card) or PHQ-9 9th item, administered following a positive depression screen (PHQ-2≥3), were determined using manual chart review. Generalized estimating equations were used to calculate adjusted odds ratios for demographic and clinical correlates of positive SI assessments. RESULTS: Of 1340 OEF/OIF veterans with positive depression screens, 32.4% reported SI. In multivariate models, odds of SI were lower for non-Hispanic white veterans (AOR=0.68) and greater for those with PHQ-2≥5 (AOR=1.87), depression (AOR=1.45), bipolar disorder/schizophrenia (AOR=2.84), and 2 or ≥3 diagnoses (AORs=1.59 and 2.49, respectively). LIMITATIONS: Study findings may not be generalizable to non-veteran patient populations and the study does not address the reliability and validity of tools employed for brief suicidal ideation assessment. CONCLUSIONS: SI is common among OEF/OIF veterans who receive VA care, perhaps more so among non-white veterans. Targeting veterans with higher PHQ-2 scores for SI assessment should be considered to reduce patient and administrative burden. Published by Elsevier B.V.
BACKGROUND: We sought to determine the prevalence and correlates of suicidal ideation (SI) among Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OEF/OIF) veterans following the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) 2007 implementation of required brief SI assessments for veterans who screen positive for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. METHODS: We retrospectively identified OEF/OIF veterans screened for depression using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2) between April 2008 and September 2009 at three geographically-distinct VA Medical Centers' primary care or mental health clinics. Veteran responses to a two-item risk assessment tool (VA Pocket Card) or PHQ-9 9th item, administered following a positive depression screen (PHQ-2≥3), were determined using manual chart review. Generalized estimating equations were used to calculate adjusted odds ratios for demographic and clinical correlates of positive SI assessments. RESULTS: Of 1340 OEF/OIF veterans with positive depression screens, 32.4% reported SI. In multivariate models, odds of SI were lower for non-Hispanic white veterans (AOR=0.68) and greater for those with PHQ-2≥5 (AOR=1.87), depression (AOR=1.45), bipolar disorder/schizophrenia (AOR=2.84), and 2 or ≥3 diagnoses (AORs=1.59 and 2.49, respectively). LIMITATIONS: Study findings may not be generalizable to non-veteran patient populations and the study does not address the reliability and validity of tools employed for brief suicidal ideation assessment. CONCLUSIONS: SI is common among OEF/OIF veterans who receive VA care, perhaps more so among non-white veterans. Targeting veterans with higher PHQ-2 scores for SI assessment should be considered to reduce patient and administrative burden. Published by Elsevier B.V.
Authors: Steven K Dobscha; Lauren M Denneson; Anne E Kovas; Alan Teo; Christopher W Forsberg; Mark S Kaplan; Robert Bossarte; Bentson H McFarland Journal: J Gen Intern Med Date: 2014-12 Impact factor: 5.128
Authors: Brian E Bunnell; Tatiana M Davidson; Jessica L Hamblen; Danna L Cook; Anouk L Grubaugh; Brian E Lozano; Peter W Tuerk; Kenneth J Ruggiero Journal: Pilot Feasibility Stud Date: 2017-02-17
Authors: Adel Alaeddini; Syed Hasib Akhter Faruqui; Mike C Chang; Sara Shirinkam; Carlos Jaramillo; Peyman NajafiRad; Jing Wang; Mary Jo Pugh Journal: JMIR Med Inform Date: 2020-06-17