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Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for depression (ACT-D) is a promising depression treatment which has not been evaluated on a large scale within VA. This study aimed to evaluate ACT-D's effectiveness in a national, treatment-seeking sample of Veterans. The sample comprised 831 Veterans who received a primary depression diagnosis and received at least two sessions of ACT-D during fiscal years 2015–2020. We used GLM to measure predictors of symptom change, treatment response (50 % reduction in PHQ-9 and AAQ-II scores), subthreshold depression symptoms (PHQ-9 < 10; AAQ-II < 27), and treatment completion. Veterans experienced an average reduction of 3.39 points on the PHQ-9 (Cohen's d = 0.56) and 3.76 points on the AAQ-II (Cohen's d = 0.43). On the PHQ-9, 40 % achieved subthreshold depression symptoms. On the AAQ-II, 36 % of Veterans achieved subthreshold psychological inflexibility scores. Service-connected disability rating for depression and higher levels of medical comorbidity were both related to lower levels of overall depression symptom change and treatment response. Substance use disorder and bipolar/psychosis diagnoses were associated with greater reductions in psychological inflexibility. This is an observational study without a control group, so we were unable to compare the effectiveness of ACT-D to other usual care for depression. We were also unable to assess variables that can influence treatment success, such as therapist fidelity and patient engagement. ACT-D achieved similar improvements in depression as reported in controlled trials. Adaptations to ACT-D may be needed to improve outcomes for Veterans with depression and comorbid PTSD. • Veterans experienced medium effect size decreases in depression over the course of ACT-D • We found similar effects for ACT-D as have been found in other studies of cognitive-behavioral therapies for depression. • Veterans with depression and comorbid PTSD experienced less change in depression symptoms. • ACT approaches might be helpful to incorporate for individuals for substance use disorder and bipolar/psychosis diagnoses [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although most veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) benefit from evidence-based treatments, questions persist concerning the profiles of those at risk for poor outcomes. To help address these gaps, this study analyzed a large clinical cohort of veterans receiving prolonged exposure (PE) or cognitive processing therapy (CPT).Methods: Cluster analysis using Ward's method with Euclidian distances identified clinically meaningful subgroups of veterans in a national cohort (n = 20,848) using variables maintained in the electronic medical record. The clusters were then compared via one-way analysis of variance and Tukey's HSD on indicators of treatment progress including PTSD symptom change, clinical recovery, clinically significant change, remission, and treatment completion.Results: Effect size differences on clinical outcome measures for PE and CPT were negligible. Less than half of veterans achieved at least a 15-point reduction in PCL-5 score and half completed treatment. We identified 10 distinct clusters. Higher rates of PTSD service-connected disability were linked to poorer outcomes across multiple clusters, especially when combined with Post-Vietnam service era. Non-White race was also linked with poorer clinical outcomes. Factors associated with better outcomes included a greater proportion of female veterans, especially when combined with recent service era, and longer PTSD diagnosis duration.Conclusions: This study suggests the need to improve PTSD treatment outcomes for non-White and male veterans, examine treatment response in Post-Vietnam era veterans, and consider ways in which the service connection process could hinder treatment response. The results from this study also indicate the benefits of integrating elements of clinical complexity into an analytic approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Health systems with limited resources may have the greatest impact on suicide if their prevention efforts target the highest-risk treatment groups during the highest-risk periods. To date, few health systems have carefully segmented their depression treatment populations by level of risk and prioritized prevention efforts on this basis. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 887,859 VA patients receiving depression treatment between 4/1/1999 and 9/30/2004. We calculated suicide rates for five sequential 12-week periods following treatment events that health systems could readily identify: psychiatric hospitalizations, new antidepressant starts (>6 months without fills), “other” antidepressant starts, and dose changes. Using piecewise exponential models, we examined whether rates differed across time-periods. We also examined whether suicide rates differed by age-group in these periods. Results: Over all time-periods, the suicide rate was 114/100,000 person-years (95% CI; 108, 120). In the first 12-week periods, suicide rates were: 568/100,000 p-y (95% CI; 493, 651) following psychiatric hospitalizations; 210/100,000 p-y (95% CI; 187, 236) following new antidepressant starts; 193/100,000 p-y (95% CI; 167, 222) following other starts; and 154/100,000 p-y (95% CI; 133, 177) following dose changes. Suicide rates remained above the base rate for 48 weeks following hospital discharge and 12 weeks following antidepressant events. Adults aged 61–80 years were at highest risk in the first 12-week periods. Conclusions: To have the greatest impact on suicide, health systems should prioritize prevention efforts following psychiatric hospitalizations. If resources allow, closer monitoring may also be warranted in the first 12 weeks following antidepressant starts, across all age-groups. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Background: We assessed whether key constructs of the interpersonal theory of suicide were associated with suicidal ideation in depressed US Veterans. Methods: 443 patients of the Veterans Health Administration diagnosed with a depressive disorder completed the Beck Depression Inventory, Interpersonal Support Evaluation List, and Beck Hopelessness Scale, from which we derived measures of burdensomeness, belongingness, and hopelessness consistent with the interpersonal theory of suicide. Measures of active and passive suicidal ideation were constructed from the Beck Suicide Scale and Beck Depression Inventory obtained at baseline and 3-months follow-up. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify predictors of passive and active suicidal ideation while adjusting for demographic characteristics and somatic-affective symptoms of depression (e.g., anhedonia, insomnia). Results: Burdensomeness and hopelessness were significantly associated with passive suicidal ideation at baseline and 3 months follow-up, but belongingness and the interaction between belongingness and burdensomeness were not significant predictors as proposed by the interpersonal theory of suicide. Somatic-affective depressive symptoms, but not any of the main effects predicted by the interpersonal theory of suicide or their interactions, were associated with active suicidal ideation at baseline. No factors were consistently associated with active suicidal ideation at 3 months follow-up. Limitations: The measure of burdensomeness used in this study only partially represents the construct described by the interpersonal theory of suicide. Conclusion: We found little support for the predictions of the interpersonal theory of suicide. Hopelessness appears to be an important determinant of passive suicidal ideation, while somatic-affective depression symptoms may be a key contributor to active suicidal ideation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objectives: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is the most effective treatment for severe or treatment resistant depression; however, the lack of widely accepted methods for determining when ECT is indicated may contribute to disparities and variation in use. We examined receipt of ECT among depressed patients in the largest coordinated health system in the US, the Veterans Health Administration. Methods: Using administrative data, we conducted a multivariable logistic regression to identify individual clinical and sociodemographic predictors of receiving ECT, including variables of geographic accessibility to ECT, among patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder between 1999 and 2004. Results: 307 (0.16%) of 187,811 patients diagnosed with major depression received ECT during the study period. Black patients were less likely to receive ECT than whites (odds ratio 0.33; 95% confidence interval: 0.20, 0.55), and patients living in the South (OR: 0.71; 95% CI: 0.53, 0.95) or West (OR: 0.59; 95% CI: 0.42, 0.82) were less likely to receive ECT than patients living in the central US. Patients whose closest VA facility provided ECT had a higher likelihood of receiving ECT (OR: 3.02; 95% CI: 2.22, 4.10). Depressed patients with no major medical comorbidities were also more likely to receive ECT (OR: 2.42; 95% CI: 1.65, 3.55). Limitations: Findings are not adjusted for depression severity. Conclusions: ECT use for major depression was relatively uncommon. Race, US region, geographic accessibility, and general medical health were all associated with whether or not patients received ECT. Clinicians and health systems should work to provide equitable access and more consistent use of this safe and effective treatment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]