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Fitzke RE, Bouskill KE, Sedano A, Tran DD, Saba SK, Buch K, Hummer JF, Davis JP, Pedersen ER. Barriers and Facilitators to Behavioral Healthcare for Women Veterans: a Mixed-Methods Analysis of the Current Landscape. J Behav Health Serv Res 2024; 51:164-184. [PMID: 37798569 PMCID: PMC10940443 DOI: 10.1007/s11414-023-09862-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
Women veterans have historically faced barriers to behavioral health treatment, particularly through the VA. In conjunction, there have been changes in behavioral healthcare delivery resulting from efforts to improve care for women veterans and the COVID-19 pandemic (e.g., widespread telehealth implementation). The current study draws on a quantitative and qualitative study centering current perspectives of women veterans in their choices to seek or not seek behavioral healthcare in VA and non-VA settings through interviewing 18 women recruited from a larger survey study on veteran behavioral health (n = 83 women, n = 882 men) on their experiences with behavioral health care access and satisfaction, including barriers and facilitators to seeking care. Quantitative findings are descriptively reported from the larger study, which outlined screening for behavioral health problems, behavioral health utilization, treatment modality preferences, and barriers/facilitators to care. While women in the survey sample screened for various behavioral health disorders, rates of treatment seeking remained relatively low. Women reported positive and negative experiences with telehealth and endorsed many barriers to treatment seeking in interviews not captured by survey findings, including lack of women-specific care (e.g., care for military sexual trauma, women-only groups), reports of stranger harassment at the VA, and lack of female providers. Women veterans continue to face barriers to behavioral healthcare; however, ongoing efforts to improve care access and quality, including the implementation of telehealth, show promise in reducing these obstacles. Continued efforts are needed to ensure diverse treatment modalities continue to reach women veterans as this population grows.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reagan E Fitzke
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, 2250 Alcazar St., Suite 2200, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA.
| | | | - Angeles Sedano
- University of Southern California, Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, 669 W. 34th St, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Denise D Tran
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, 2250 Alcazar St., Suite 2200, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Shaddy K Saba
- University of Southern California, Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, 669 W. 34th St, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Keegan Buch
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, 2250 Alcazar St., Suite 2200, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Justin F Hummer
- RAND Corporation, 1776 Main St, Santa Monica, CA, 90401, USA
| | - Jordan P Davis
- University of Southern California, Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, 669 W. 34th St, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Eric R Pedersen
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, 2250 Alcazar St., Suite 2200, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
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Davis JP, Prindle J, Saba SK, Castro CA, Hummer J, Canning L, Pedersen ER. Longitudinal associations between insomnia, cannabis use and stress among US veterans. J Sleep Res 2024; 33:e13945. [PMID: 37243415 PMCID: PMC10676445 DOI: 10.1111/jsr.13945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Insomnia is highly prevalent among military veterans, with rates nearly double that of civilian populations. Insomnia typically co-occurs with other psychological problems, including substance use (e.g. cannabis) and perceived stress. Much of the research focused on insomnia, stress and cannabis use explores cannabis as a sleep aid and a mechanism for stress relief. However, recent theoretical and empirical evidence suggests a dynamic interplay between insomnia, cannabis use and perceived stress, yet few longitudinal studies exist. Using a sample of 1105 post-9/11 veterans assessed over four time points across 12 months, we used latent difference score modelling to examine proportional change between insomnia, perceived stress and cannabis use. Results revealed a complex interplay between all three constructs. In particular, we show that higher prior levels of insomnia are associated with greater increases in perceived stress, and greater prior levels of stress are associated with greater increases in cannabis use. Perhaps more importantly, our results also point to cannabis use as a catalyst for greater increases in both stress and insomnia severity. Our results suggest there may be both benefits and costs of cannabis use among veterans. Specifically, for veterans who experience chronic sleep problems, perceived stress may become overwhelming, and the benefit of stress reduction from increased cannabis use may come at the cost of increasing insomnia symptomology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan P. Davis
- University of Southern California, Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work
| | - John Prindle
- University of Southern California, Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work
| | - Shaddy K. Saba
- University of Southern California, Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work
| | - Carl A. Castro
- University of Southern California, Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work
| | | | - Liv Canning
- University of Southern California, Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work
| | - Eric R. Pedersen
- University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
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Saba SK, Davis JP, Prindle JJ, Howe E, Tran DD, Bunyi J, Hummer JF, Castro CA, Pedersen ER. Bidirectional Associations Between Pain and Perceived Stress Among Veterans: Depressive Disorder as a Predisposing Factor. Psychosom Med 2024; 86:44-51. [PMID: 37774110 PMCID: PMC10841244 DOI: 10.1097/psy.0000000000001253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Military veterans who were injured in combat very often report pain along with co-occurring perceived stress and preexisting depressive disorder. The systems model of pain is a theoretical model suggesting that pain and perceived stress are bidirectionally associated at the within-person level, and associations are heightened among those with depressive disorder. However, the systems model of pain has not been adequately tested. Testing the systems model of pain could illuminate salient treatment targets for combat-injured veterans with pain and co-occurring psychological problems. METHODS The present study empirically tests the systems model of pain among a sample of combat-injured veterans ( N = 902) surveyed five times during an 18-month period. We used a multigroup, autoregressive latent trajectory with structured residual statistical model to test the within-person associations between pain and perceived stress and determine whether associations differ between veterans with and without a positive screen for depressive disorder. RESULTS In line with the systems model of pain, pain and perceived stress were bidirectionally associated only among combat-injured veterans with depressive disorder. Among such veterans, perceived stress was positively associated with subsequent pain ( b = 0.12; 95% confidence interval = 0.06-0.17), and pain was positively associated with subsequent perceived stress ( b = 0.44; 95% CI = 0.11-0.77). CONCLUSIONS Our work highlights the interplay between pain and its psychological correlates among a particularly at-risk population. Clinicians addressing pain and perceived stress among combat-injured veterans should be prepared to identify and address depressive disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaddy K. Saba
- University of Southern California, Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, 669 W. 34 St, Los Angeles, CA 90089
| | - Jordan P. Davis
- University of Southern California, Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, 669 W. 34 St, Los Angeles, CA 90089
| | - John J. Prindle
- University of Southern California, Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, 669 W. 34 St, Los Angeles, CA 90089
| | - Esther Howe
- University of California, Berkeley, Department of Psychology, 2121 Berkeley Way, Berkeley, CA 94720
| | - Denise D. Tran
- University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, 2250 Alcazar Street, Suite 2200, Los Angeles, CA 90033
| | - John Bunyi
- University of Southern California, Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, 669 W. 34 St, Los Angeles, CA 90089
| | | | - Carl Andrew Castro
- University of Southern California, Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, 669 W. 34 St, Los Angeles, CA 90089
| | - Eric R. Pedersen
- University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, 2250 Alcazar Street, Suite 2200, Los Angeles, CA 90033
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Saba SK, Davis JP, Bricker JB, Christie NC, Pedersen ER. Pain Trajectories among U.S. Veterans During COVID-19. J Pain 2023; 24:2093-2102. [PMID: 37414327 PMCID: PMC10615718 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2023.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
Physical pain is highly prevalent among military veterans. As stress can impact pain, COVID-19-related stressors may have heightened pain among veterans. A prospective analysis of pain could advance understanding of how veterans fared during COVID-19 and lend knowledge of risk factors important beyond the pandemic. The present study employs growth mixture modeling with a sample of U.S. veterans high in pain (N = 1,230) followed from just before COVID-19 (February 2020) to 12 months later (February 2021; 81.7% retention). We explored heterogeneous pain trajectories as well as baseline and COVID-19-related predictors of pain. Results revealed 4 pain trajectory classes: 1) Chronic Pain (17.3% of the sample); 2) Decreasing Pain (57.2% of the sample); 3) Stable Mild Pain (19.8% of the sample); and 4) Increasing Pain (5.7% of the sample). Those with childhood trauma exposure were especially likely to report chronic pain. Female and racial/ethnic minority veterans were also relatively likely to fare poorly in pain. Loneliness was associated with subsequent pain among several classes. Most veterans in our sample fared better than expected in terms of pain. However, as those with childhood trauma and certain disadvantaged groups were less likely to fare well, we add to the important literature on disparities in pain. Clinicians should identify whether loneliness and other factors impacted pain during COVID-19 among their patients to inform ongoing, person-centered pain management approaches. PERSPECTIVE: This article presents pain trajectories and correlates of pain among a high-pain sample of U.S. veterans surveyed prior to and during COVID-19. Pain clinicians should screen for childhood trauma and remain vigilant in addressing health disparities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaddy K. Saba
- University of Southern California, Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, 669 W. 34 St, Los Angeles, CA 90089
| | - Jordan P. Davis
- University of Southern California, Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, USC Center for Artificial Intelligence in Society; USC Center for Mindfulness Science; USC Institute for Addiction Science, 669 W. 34 St, Los Angeles, CA 90089
| | - Jonathan B. Bricker
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Division of Public Health Sciences; University of Washington, Department of Psychology, 1100 Fairview Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98109
| | - Nina C. Christie
- University of Southern California, Department of Psychology, 3620 McClintock Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90089
| | - Eric R. Pedersen
- University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, 2250 Alcazar Street, Suite 2200, Los Angeles, CA 90033
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Saba SK, Godwin J, Hong SH, Pan T, Chang Y, Brindle E, Herrenkohl TI. Associations between childhood maltreatment and physiological dysregulation in adulthood: Methodological decisions and implications. Child Abuse Negl 2023; 144:106369. [PMID: 37494760 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Childhood maltreatment is linked with health problems in adulthood. Theoretical models suggest that maltreatment leads to dysregulation in several bodily systems, and this has been corroborated using measures of physiological function (i.e., biomarkers). Methodological decisions involving the measurement of maltreatment and dimension reduction with respect to biomarkers (i.e., combining information across multiple measures) may influence research findings. OBJECTIVE The present study compares associations between childhood maltreatment and adult physiological dysregulation using multiple dimension reduction approaches and measures of maltreatment. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING Participants were recruited, as children, to a prospective study of the correlates and consequences of childhood maltreatment. 253 participants were retained and provided biomarker data at midlife. Physiological dysregulation was operationalized with a conventional allostatic load approach and a novel statistical distance approach. METHODS Regression models were employed with allostatic load or statistical distance as the outcome and prospectively or retrospectively measured child maltreatment as the primary predictor. RESULTS When using allostatic load as the outcome, prospectively measured childhood maltreatment was positively associated with physiological dysregulation (b = 0.70, SE = 0.31, p = 0.02). When using statistical distance as the outcome, retrospectively measured childhood maltreatment was positively associated with physiological dysregulation (b = 0.69, SE = 0.19 p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS We report a positive association between childhood maltreatment and physiological dysregulation at midlife. However, the significance and magnitude of effects varied with different maltreatment and physiological dysregulation measures. Further review of the methods used to study adult health conditions and their relation to childhood maltreatment is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaddy K Saba
- University of Southern California, Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, 669 W. 34th St, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States of America
| | - Jessica Godwin
- University of Washington, Center for Studies in Demography and Ecology, 206 Raitt Hall, Seattle, WA 98105, United States of America
| | - Sunghyun H Hong
- University of Michigan, School of Social Work, 1080 S. University Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States of America
| | - Tiffany Pan
- University of Washington, Center for Studies in Demography and Ecology, 206 Raitt Hall, Seattle, WA 98105, United States of America
| | - Yujeong Chang
- University of Michigan, School of Social Work, 1080 S. University Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States of America
| | - Eleanor Brindle
- PATH, 2201 Westlake Ave Suite 200, Seattle, WA 98121, United States of America
| | - Todd I Herrenkohl
- University of Michigan, School of Social Work, 1080 S. University Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, United States of America.
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Davis JP, Canning L, Saba SK, Bravo AJ, Amone-P'Olak K, Sedano A, Tran D, Castro C, Pedersen ER. Associations between trauma-related guilt, symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, and problematic alcohol use. Psychiatry Res 2023; 326:115350. [PMID: 37487463 PMCID: PMC10752625 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023]
Abstract
Trauma-related guilt, or a belief that one should have felt, thought, or acted differently during a traumatic event in which someone's life or physical integrity was threatened, has been consistently associated with mental health disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Theories of trauma-related guilt suggest that some avoidant coping behaviors, such as problematic alcohol use, are crucial pathways connecting trauma-related guilt to PTSD but have not been thoroughly investigated. The present study uses data from a longitudinal cohort of veterans to examine two models: the first assessed problematic alcohol use as a mechanism linking trauma-related guilt and PTSD. The second explored PTSD as a mechanism linking trauma-related guilt to problematic alcohol use. Results indicated that problematic alcohol use was a significant mechanism linking global guilt and guilt cognitions with PTSD. Further, results indicated that PTSD was a significant mechanism linking global guilt and distress with problematic alcohol use. Results of our study indicate that alcohol use is a key construct that has been overlooked in the trauma-related guilt literature, despite the high prevalence of co-occurring PTSD and alcohol use (and alcohol use disorder). Targeting trauma-related guilt during integrated treatments for PTSD and alcohol use disorder may be particularly important for veterans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan P Davis
- Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles California, United Sates.
| | - Liv Canning
- Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles California, United Sates
| | - Shaddy K Saba
- Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles California, United Sates
| | - Adrian J Bravo
- Department of Psychological Sciences, College of William & Mary, Williamsburg VA, United States
| | - Kennedy Amone-P'Olak
- Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles California, United Sates; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 669W 34th street, Los Angeles CA 90089, United Sates; Department of Psychological Sciences, College of William & Mary, Williamsburg VA, United States; Department of Psychology, Kyambogo University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Angeles Sedano
- Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles California, United Sates
| | - Denise Tran
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 669W 34th street, Los Angeles CA 90089, United Sates
| | - Carl Castro
- Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles California, United Sates
| | - Eric R Pedersen
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 669W 34th street, Los Angeles CA 90089, United Sates
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Davis JP, Prindle J, Saba SK, Tran DD, Lee DS, Sedano A, Castro CA, Pedersen ER. Changes in perceived stress during the COVID-19 pandemic among American veterans. Stress Health 2022; 38:1014-1028. [PMID: 35460535 PMCID: PMC9111081 DOI: 10.1002/smi.3153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
American veterans are a population that suffer from both context specific stressors as well as many population-specific major-life events. The present exploratory study utilises a longitudinal cohort of 1230 U.S. veterans surveyed from February 2020 through February 2021. We sought to understand heterogeneity in perceived stress, using growth mixture modelling, over this time period, how COVID-specific factors such as negative reactions to the pandemic, loneliness, and employment disruptions influence perceived stress trajectories, and how veterans vary across distal outcomes including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), pain, depression, sleep problems, physical health, and alcohol use disorder. Results revealed a 4-class solution: Stable High, Stable Low, Steady Increasing, and Steady Decreasing classes. In terms of COVID specific factors, negative reactions to COVID were consistently associated with perceived stress for those in the Stable High and Steady Increasing classes whereas loneliness was associated with stress trajectories for all emergent classes. Finally, in terms of our distal outcomes, results showed a relatively robust pattern with veterans in the Stable High or Steady Increasing classes reporting worse scores across all outcomes including PTSD, pain, sleep problems, physical health, depression, and alcohol use disorder. Understanding the interplay between existing vulnerabilities, ongoing stressors, and behavioural health outcomes among veterans is crucial for prevention and intervention efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan P. Davis
- Suzanne Dworak‐Peck School of Social WorkUniversity of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - John Prindle
- Suzanne Dworak‐Peck School of Social WorkUniversity of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Shaddy K. Saba
- Suzanne Dworak‐Peck School of Social WorkUniversity of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Denise D. Tran
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral SciencesUniversity of Southern CaliforniaKeck School of MedicineLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Daniel S. Lee
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral SciencesUniversity of Southern CaliforniaKeck School of MedicineLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Angeles Sedano
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral SciencesUniversity of Southern CaliforniaKeck School of MedicineLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Carl A. Castro
- Suzanne Dworak‐Peck School of Social WorkUniversity of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Eric R. Pedersen
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral SciencesUniversity of Southern CaliforniaKeck School of MedicineLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
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Davis JP, Prindle J, Saba SK, DiGuiseppi GT, Hummer J, Lee DS, Fitzke R, Sedano A, Castro CA, Pedersen ER. What's sleep got to do with it? Longitudinal associations between insomnia, PTSD, and alcohol use among U.S. Veterans. Addict Behav 2022; 132:107358. [PMID: 35552069 DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2022.107358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
U.S. veterans are at risk for insomnia, which often co-occurs with symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use. Much of the research on veterans and these three constructs is cross-sectional and focused on unidirectional pathways. Recent theoretical and empirical evidence suggests a dynamic interplay between insomnia, PTSD, and alcohol use, yet few longitudinal studies exist. A clearer understanding of these pathways is needed to help inform integrated treatments. Using a sample of 1,230 post-9/11 veterans assessed over four time points across 12 months, we used a latent difference score modeling approach to examine proportional and dynamic change between insomnia, PTSD, and alcohol. Results revealed a complex interplay between all three constructs. Higher prior levels of both PTSD and alcohol use were associated with greater subsequent changes in insomnia symptoms (i.e., worse sleep). Moreover, although veterans drank less frequently as their insomnia symptoms worsened over time, greater changes in insomnia symptoms (i.e., worse symptoms) was a mechanism linking PTSD and more frequent drinking. As the research on interventions addressing insomnia, PTSD, and alcohol is limited, there are opportunities for researchers and clinicians to develop programs that effectively target all three in integrated treatments.
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Saba SK, Davis JP, Lee DS, Castro CA, Pedersen ER. Moral injury events and behavioral health outcomes among American veterans. J Anxiety Disord 2022; 90:102605. [PMID: 35868033 DOI: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2022.102605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Among American veterans, the behavioral health impact of potentially morally injurious experiences (PMIEs) has recently garnered attention. There is heterogeneity in the types of experiences that are classified as PMIEs, and different PMIEs may be differentially associated with various outcomes. We aimed to explore heterogeneity in PMIEs among veterans, and whether PMIE classes are differentially associated with several behavioral health outcomes (i.e., symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and anger). Data were from a survey study of veteran health attitudes and behavior (N=1004). We employed a Latent Class Analysis approach to identify sub-groups of participants with similar PMIE response patterns on the Moral Injury Events Scale and to determine the relationship between class membership and behavioral health outcomes. A 4-class solution best fit our data, with classes including (1) high all, (2) witnessed transgressions, (3) troubled by failure to act, and (4) moderate all. There was a link between class membership and behavioral health, with the high all class and moderate all classes consistently reporting especially poor outcomes. Our results are in line with cumulative stress models suggesting exposure to multiple forms of adversity may place individuals at particular risk of poor health and functioning. Clinicians working with veterans should screen for exposure to the full range of PMIE types and be prepared to address the multitude of behavioral health impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaddy K Saba
- University of Southern California, Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, 669W. 34th St, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.
| | - Jordan P Davis
- University of Southern California, Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, USC Center for Artificial Intelligence in Society; USC Center for Mindfulness Science; USC Institute for Addiction Science, 669W. 34th St, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Daniel S Lee
- University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, 2250 Alcazar Street, Suite 2200, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
| | - Carl Andrew Castro
- Center for Innovation and Research on Veterans and Military Families, University of Southern California Suzanne-Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, 669W. 34th St, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Eric R Pedersen
- University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, 2250 Alcazar Street, Suite 2200, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
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Bouskill KE, Fitzke RE, Saba SK, Ring C, Davis JP, Lee DS, Pedersen ER. Stress and Coping among Post-9/11 Veterans During COVID-19: A Qualitative Exploration. Journal of Veterans Studies 2022. [DOI: 10.21061/jvs.v8i1.291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
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DiNardo MM, Greco C, Phares AD, Beyer NM, Youk AO, Obrosky DS, Morone NE, Owen JE, Saba SK, Suss SJ, Siminerio L. Effects of an integrated mindfulness intervention for veterans with diabetes distress: a randomized controlled trial. BMJ Open Diabetes Res Care 2022; 10:10/2/e002631. [PMID: 35346971 PMCID: PMC8961140 DOI: 10.1136/bmjdrc-2021-002631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 02/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION US military veterans have disproportionately high rates of diabetes and diabetes-related morbidity in addition to being at risk of comorbid stress-related conditions. This study aimed to examine the effects of a technology-supported mindfulness intervention integrated into usual diabetes care and education on psychological and biobehavioral outcomes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Veterans (N=132) with type 1 or 2 diabetes participated in this two-arm randomized controlled efficacy trial. The intervention arm received a one-session mindfulness intervention integrated into a pre-existing program of diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) plus one booster session and 24 weeks of home practice supported by a mobile application. The control arm received one 3-hour comprehensive DSMES group session. The primary outcome was change in diabetes distress (DD). The secondary outcomes were diabetes self-care behaviors, diabetes self-efficacy, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, mindfulness, hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C), body weight, and blood pressure. Assessments were conducted at baseline, 12 weeks, and 24 weeks. Participant satisfaction and engagement in home practice were assessed in the intervention group at 12 and 24 weeks. RESULTS Intention-to-treat group by time analyses showed a statistically significant improvement in DD in both arms without significant intervention effect from baseline to 24 weeks. Examination of distal effects on DD between weeks 12 and 24 showed significantly greater improvement in the intervention arm. Improvement in DD was greater when baseline HbA1C was <8.5%. A significant intervention effect was also shown for general dietary behaviors. The secondary outcomes diabetes self-efficacy, PTSD, depression, and HbA1C significantly improved in both arms without significant intervention effects. Mindfulness and body weight were unchanged in either group. CONCLUSIONS A technology-supported mindfulness intervention integrated with DSMES showed stronger distal effects on DD compared with DSMES control. Examination of longer-term outcomes, underlying mechanisms, and the feasibility of virtual delivery is warranted. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT02928952.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica M DiNardo
- Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Carol Greco
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Center for Complementary Medicine, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Angela D Phares
- Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Nicole M Beyer
- Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ada O Youk
- Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - D Scott Obrosky
- Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Natalia E Morone
- Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jason E Owen
- National Center for PTSD, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Shaddy K Saba
- Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Stephen J Suss
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Linda Siminerio
- Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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12
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Saba SK, Davis JP, Prindle JJ, Castro CA, Pedersen ER. Associations between symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, pain, and alcohol use disorder among OEF/OIF/OND veterans. Addict Behav 2021; 122:107031. [PMID: 34237611 DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.107031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2021] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is prevalent among Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Dawn (OEF/OIF/OND) veterans. Pain and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are highly comorbid and increase risk of AUD. Prior studies linking pain or PTSD to AUD have not explored interactions between pain and PTSD symptoms. METHODS OEF/OIF/OND veterans (N = 1230) were recruited from social media websites for a cross-sectional study of health behavior. Pain was assessed using the Pain Outcomes Questionnaire. PTSD symptoms and PTSD symptom clusters were assessed using the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5. AUD symptoms were assessed with the AUD Identification Test. Linear regression models were used to test for main and interaction effects in the full sample and separately by sex. RESULTS Both pain and PTSD symptoms were associated with increased AUD symptomology, though the relationship between pain and AUD was heighted at relatively low PTSD symptoms. With respect to PTSD symptom clusters, re-experiencing and negative cognitions and mood were associated with increased AUD symptomology. Interactions between pain and re-experiencing as well as pain and avoidance were revealed. Results for men mirrored the full sample, while an interaction between pain and negative cognitions and mood was associated with AUD in women. CONCLUSIONS Results highlight associations between AUD, PTSD symptoms, and pain among veterans. While the relationship between pain and AUD appeared stronger in the context of low PTSD symptoms, both pain and PTSD symptoms were associated with increased AUD. Clinicians treating veterans with AUD should address the range of potential comorbidities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaddy K Saba
- University of Southern California, Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, 669 W. 34(th) St, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States.
| | - Jordan P Davis
- University of Southern California, Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, USC Center for Artificial Intelligence in Society, USC Center for Artificial Intelligence in Society, USC Institute for Addiction Science, 669 W. 34(th) St, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States
| | - John J Prindle
- University of Southern California, Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, 669 W. 34(th) St, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States
| | - Carl Andrew Castro
- Center for Innovation and Research on Veterans and Military Families, University of Southern California Suzanne-Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, 669 W. 34(th) St, Los Angeles, CA 90089, United States
| | - Eric R Pedersen
- University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, 2250 Alcazar Street, Suite 2200, Los Angeles, CA 90033, United States
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13
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Rodriguez KL, Hedayati DO, Broyles LM, Wieland ME, Mitchell MA, Conley JW, Saba SK, Gordon AJ. Homeless and marginally housed Veteran perspectives on participating in a photo-elicitation research study. Patient Experience Journal 2018. [DOI: 10.35680/2372-0247.1219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
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14
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Gordon AJ, Saba SK. Confronting the opioid epidemic through publication, promotion, and dissemination of evidence-based addiction scholarship. Subst Abus 2018; 37:379-380. [PMID: 27712565 DOI: 10.1080/08897077.2016.1208988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Adam J Gordon
- a Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , USA.,b Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion (CHERP), VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , USA.,c VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System's Interdisciplinary Addictions Program for Education and Research (VIPER), VA Office of Academic Affiliation , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , USA
| | - Shaddy K Saba
- c VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System's Interdisciplinary Addictions Program for Education and Research (VIPER), VA Office of Academic Affiliation , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , USA
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Jones AL, Thomas R, Hedayati DO, Saba SK, Conley J, Gordon AJ. Patient predictors and utilization of health services within a medical home for homeless persons. Subst Abus 2018; 39:354-360. [PMID: 29412071 DOI: 10.1080/08897077.2018.1437500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) established a patient-centered medical home model of care for veterans experiencing homelessness called a Homeless Patient Aligned Care Team (HPACT) to improve engagement with primary care and reduce utilization of hospital-based services. To evaluate the impact of the HPACT model, this study compares the number and type of health care visits in the 12 months before and after enrollment in HPACT at one VHA facility, and explores patient characteristics associated with increases and decreases in visits. METHODS Chart reviews of VHA medical records were conducted for all patients enrolled in an HPACT in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, between May 2012 and December 2013 (N = 179). Multivariable mixed-effect logistic regressions estimated differences in having any visit in the 0-6 months and 7-12 months before and after HPACT enrollment, and multinomial logistic regressions predicted increases or decreases versus no change in number of visits over 12 months. RESULTS Compared with 0-6 months prior to HPACT, patients were more likely to visit primary care in the 0-6 months (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 4.91, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.94-8.20) and 7-12 months (aOR = 2.30, 95% CI = 1.42-3.72) following HPACT. Patients were less likely to visit the emergency department (ED) or to be hospitalized in the 0-6 months (aOR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.34-0.94; and aOR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.25-0.76) and 7-12 months (aOR = 0.43, 95% CI = 0.33-0.91; and aOR = 0.45, 95% CI = 0.26-0.80) following HPACT. Patients were less likely to visit mental health (aOR = 0.35, 95% CI = 0.20-0.60) and addiction specialists (aOR = 0.39, 95% CI = 0.18-0.84) in the 7-12 months following HPACT. Overall, 59% of patients had increases in primary care visits following HPACT. Female patients and those with self-housing were less likely to have increases versus no change in primary care visits (adjusted relative risk ratio [aRRR] = 0.15, 95% CI = 0.03-0.74; and aRRR = 0.35, 95% CI = 0.14-0.90). CONCLUSIONS An integrated HPACT model was successful in engaging homeless veterans in primary care for 1 year, potentially contributing to reductions in ED use. More tailored approaches may be needed for vulnerable populations experiencing homelessness, including homeless women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey L Jones
- a Informatics , Decision-Enhancement and Analytic Sciences (IDEAS 2.0) Center of Innovation, VA Salt Lake City Health Care System , Salt Lake City , Utah , USA.,b Department of Internal Medicine , University of Utah School of Medicine , Salt Lake City , Utah , USA
| | - Roxanne Thomas
- c Providence Milwaukie Hospital , Milwaukie , Oregon , USA
| | | | - Shaddy K Saba
- e Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion (CHERP) , VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , USA
| | - James Conley
- e Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion (CHERP) , VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , USA
| | - Adam J Gordon
- a Informatics , Decision-Enhancement and Analytic Sciences (IDEAS 2.0) Center of Innovation, VA Salt Lake City Health Care System , Salt Lake City , Utah , USA.,b Department of Internal Medicine , University of Utah School of Medicine , Salt Lake City , Utah , USA.,f Department of Psychiatry , University of Utah School of Medicine , Salt Lake City , Utah , USA
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16
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Sestito SF, Rodriguez KL, Saba SK, Conley JW, Mitchell MA, Gordon AJ. Homeless veterans' experiences with substance use, recovery, and treatment through photo elicitation. Subst Abus 2017; 38:422-431. [PMID: 28726549 DOI: 10.1080/08897077.2017.1356422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Homeless veterans often have addictions and comorbidities that complicate utilization of longitudinal health care services, such as primary care. An understanding of experiences of veterans enrolled in a Homeless Patient Aligned Care Team (H-PACT) may improve addiction treatment engagement in these settings. The authors aimed to describe H-PACT veterans' experiences with substance use (SU), substance use recovery (SUR), and substance use treatment (SUT). METHODS Homeless veterans were recruited from a veteran primary care medical home clinic between September 2014 and March 2015. Twenty veterans were given digital cameras and prompts for taking photographs about their health and health care and participated in 2 photo elicitation interviews. For this secondary analysis, transcripts from the audio-recorded interviews were analyzed by 2 coders using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS The majority of participants (75%, n = 15) discussed SU, SUR, and/or SUT in regards to their health and health care utilization. SU themes centered on disclosure of addiction or dependency; substances used; repercussions of SU; SU as a coping mechanism; and association of SU with military service. SUR themes included disclosure of length of sobriety; perceived facilitators of SUR in health, beliefs, social, environmental, financial, and creative pursuit domains; and perceived barriers to SUR in beliefs, social, and environmental domains. SUT themes focused on perceived facilitators of SUT in access to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and non-VA services and social domains and perceived barriers to SUT in the social domain. CONCLUSIONS Providers seeking to elicit addiction-related clinical history and facilitate SUR and SUT might look to the current findings for guidance. Provider training in motivational interviewing may be warranted, which allows for an exploration of health-related consequences of SU and supports patients' self-efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel F Sestito
- a Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine , School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , USA.,b Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion , VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , USA
| | - Keri L Rodriguez
- a Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine , School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , USA.,b Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion , VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , USA
| | - Shaddy K Saba
- c Interdisciplinary Addiction Program for Education and Research , VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , USA
| | - James W Conley
- b Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion , VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , USA
| | - Michael A Mitchell
- d Office of Data Analysis, Research, and Evaluation , Allegheny County Department of Human Services , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , USA
| | - Adam J Gordon
- a Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine , School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , USA.,b Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion , VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , USA.,e Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center , VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , USA
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Narayanan AK, Harding JD, Saba SK, Conley J, Gordon AJ. Left, right, and meeting in the middle: Addressing addiction is something we can agree about. Subst Abus 2016; 37:495-497. [PMID: 27648701 DOI: 10.1080/08897077.2016.1238655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The United States faces an addiction health crisis. Presidential election cycles in the United States are cause for creation of political party platforms. These platforms provide general stances and specific policies on a variety of issues. We undertook a review of the addiction policies of the 2016 Republican and Democratic platforms. Despite differences in focus, we found more similarities than differences between the two. We call upon those in political power to use every evidence-based policy at their disposal to promote addiction treatment and prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthi K Narayanan
- a University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , USA
| | - John D Harding
- b Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion (CHERP), VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , USA.,c Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC), VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , USA
| | - Shaddy K Saba
- d VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System Interdisciplinary Addiction Program for Education and Research (VIPER), VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , USA
| | - James Conley
- b Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion (CHERP), VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , USA.,c Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC), VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , USA
| | - Adam J Gordon
- a University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , USA.,b Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion (CHERP), VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , USA.,c Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC), VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , USA.,d VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System Interdisciplinary Addiction Program for Education and Research (VIPER), VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania , USA
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