A5088197246- Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Homelessness and Social Issues
- Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
- Schizophrenia research and treatment
- Mental Health and Patient Involvement
- Health Policy Implementation Science
- Neurotransmitter Receptor Influence on Behavior
- Psychopathy, Forensic Psychiatry, Sexual Offending
- Prenatal Substance Exposure Effects
- Criminal Justice and Corrections Analysis
- Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations
- Primary Care and Health Outcomes
- Geriatric Care and Nursing Homes
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
- Smoking Behavior and Cessation
- Treatment of Major Depression
- Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors Study
- Digital Mental Health Interventions
- Health disparities and outcomes
- Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control
- Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
- Receptor Mechanisms and Signaling
- Bipolar Disorder and Treatment
University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School
2016-2025
Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital
2014-2024
VA New England Healthcare System
2021-2023
University of Massachusetts Boston
2023
John Marshall Law School
2023
United States Department of Veterans Affairs
1997-2022
Bedford VA Research Corporation
2016-2022
University of Massachusetts Amherst
2022
Center for Health Care Strategies
2022
Health Services Research & Development
2022
Background: Similar to patients with other chronic disorders, serious mental illness (SMI) are often poorly adherent prescribed medications. Objective: We conducted a randomized controlled trial examining the effectiveness of pharmacy-based intervention (Meds-Help) in increasing antipsychotic medication adherence among Department Veterans Affairs (VA) SMI. also examined impact Meds-Help on psychiatric symptoms, quality life, and satisfaction care. Methods: enrolled 118 from 4 VA facilities...
This article reports the results of a low-intensity wraparound intervention, Maintaining Independence and Sobriety through Systems Integration, Outreach, Networking (MISSION), to augment Treatment as Usual (TAU) engage retain homeless veterans with co-occurring disorder (COD) in care. Using quasi-experimental design, 333 were enrolled, 218 who received MISSION along TAU 115 alone. Group assignment was based on treatment slot availability at time enrollment. Compared alone, individuals...
Addressing the health needs of homeless veterans is a priority in United States, and, although information technologies can potentially improve access to and engagement care, little known about this population's use or their willingness communicate with healthcare providers systems.This study fills gap through survey veterans' attitudes using these assist accessing needed services.Among 106 surveyed, 89% had mobile phone (one-third were smartphones), 76% used Internet. Among those phone, 71%...
The Veterans Justice Outreach (VJO) program of the U.S. Health Administration has a primary mission linking military veterans in jails, courts, or contact with law enforcement to mental health and substance use disorder treatment. National data VJO were used describe demographic characteristics, diagnoses treatment test correlates entry engagement using multi-level logistic regression models. Of 37,542 veterans, was associated being homeless having both versus only. Being American...
Approximately 600,000 persons are released from prison annually in the United States. Relatively few receive sufficient re-entry services and at risk for unemployment, homelessness, poverty, substance abuse relapse recidivism. Persons leaving who have a mental illness and/or use disorder particularly challenged. This project aims to create peer mentor program extend reach effectiveness of reentry provided by Department Veterans' Affairs (VA). We will implement support veterans sequentially...
A variety of patients - including women, older, racial/ethnic minority, rural, homeless, and justice-involved are vulnerable to experiencing poor healthcare access quality, such as lower quality substance use disorder treatment, than other populations. The current study examined receipt medications for opioid by populations within Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities determine whether there patient facility factors that associated with disparities in care.Using national VHA...
Objective: To examine the efficacy of atypical neuroleptics for decreasing craving and drug relapses during protracted withdrawal in individuals dually diagnosed with schizophrenia cocaine dependence. Method: We conducted a 6-week, open-label pilot study comparing risperidone typical sample withdrawn cocaine-dependent patients. Results: Preliminary results suggest that treated had significantly less cue-elicited substance abuse at completion. Further, they showed trend toward greater...
Although a growing body of research suggests that atypical neuroleptic medications are efficacious in the treatment cocaine addiction among individuals with schizophrenia, more rigorously controlled trials needed. To extend this research, we performed 6-week double-blind study comparing olanzapine to haloperidol primary objective reducing cue-elicited craving and secondary aims decreasing substance use, improving psychiatric symptoms, determining an effect size for future studies.Thirty-one...
The influx of young adult veterans with mental health challenges from recent wars combined newly expanded veteran education benefits has highlighted the need for a supported service within Veterans Administration. However, it is unknown how such should be designed to best respond these needs. This study undertook qualitative needs assessment supports among post-9/11 self-reported PTSD symptoms.Focus groups were held 31 veterans, 54% whom under age 30. Transcripts analyzed and interpreted...
Objectives: While permanent housing, addictions, and mental health treatment are often critical needs to achieve housing stability community reintegration, few studies have systematically integrated them into a single comprehensive approach for people experiencing chronic homelessness. This pilot study examined the feasibility preliminary outcomes of integrating supportive an evidence-based co-occurring disorders intervention called Maintaining Independence Sobriety Through Systems...
Digital mental health interventions, such as artificial intelligence (AI) conversational agents, hold promise for improving access to care by innovating therapy and supporting delivery. However, little research exists on patient perspectives regarding AI which is crucial their successful implementation. This study aimed fill the gap exploring patients' perceptions acceptability of agents in healthcare. Adults with self-reported mild moderate anxiety were recruited from UMass Memorial Health...
Abstract Animal-assisted interventions (AAI) involve interactions between humans and other species aimed at improving human psychological and/or physical health. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a condition in which AAI may be helpful. Most research has been conducted with domestic animals. Few studies have wildlife. This study used modified crossover design to evaluate the feasibility response nature/wildlife immersion program for US veterans PTSD/ PTSD symptoms. A total of 19...