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Wolfe HL, Jeon A, Goulet JL, Simpson TL, Eleazer JR, Jasuja GK, Blosnich JR, Kauth MR, Shipherd JC, Littman AJ. Non-affirmation minority stress, internalized transphobia, and subjective cognitive decline among transgender and gender diverse veterans aged 45 years and older. Aging Ment Health 2024; 28:1357-1363. [PMID: 38567655 DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2024.2335565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To examine the associations of two measures of minority stress, non-affirmation minority stress and internalized transphobia, with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) among transgender and gender diverse (TGD) veterans. METHOD We administered a cross-sectional survey from September 2022 to July 2023 to TGD veterans. The final analytic sample included 3,152 TGD veterans aged ≥45 years. We used a generalized linear model with quasi-Poisson distribution to calculate prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) measuring the relationship between non-affirmation minority stress and internalized transphobia and past-year SCD. RESULTS The mean age was 61.3 years (SD = 9.7) and the majority (70%) identified as trans women or women. Overall, 27.2% (n = 857) reported SCD. Adjusted models revealed that TGD veterans who reported experiencing non-affirmation minority stress or internalized transphobia had greater risk of past-year SCD compared to those who did not report either stressor (aPR: 1.09, 95% CI: 1.04-1.15; aPR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.12-1.27). CONCLUSION Our findings demonstrate that proximal and distal processes of stigma are associated with SCD among TGD veterans and underscore the need for addressing multiple types of discrimination. Above all, these results indicate the lasting sequelae of transphobia and need for systemic changes to prioritize the safety and welfare of TGD people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hill L Wolfe
- Pain Research, Informatics, Multi-morbidities, and Education (PRIME) Center, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, Connecticut, CT, USA
- Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Section of Biomedical Informatics & Data Science, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Amy Jeon
- Seattle Epidemiologic Research and Information Center, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Joseph L Goulet
- Pain Research, Informatics, Multi-morbidities, and Education (PRIME) Center, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, Connecticut, CT, USA
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Tracy L Simpson
- Center of Excellence in Substance Addiction Treatment & Education, VA Puget Sound Healthcare System, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jacob R Eleazer
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, FL, USA
- Transgender and Intersex Specialty Care Clinic, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Guneet K Jasuja
- Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research (CHOIR), VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, USA
- Section of General Internal Medicine, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Health Law, Policy and Management, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - John R Blosnich
- Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Michael R Kauth
- Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) Health Program, Veterans Health Administration, Washington, DC, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jillian C Shipherd
- Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) Health Program, Veterans Health Administration, Washington, DC, USA
- National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA
- Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alyson J Littman
- Seattle Epidemiologic Research and Information Center, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, USA
- Center of Innovation for Veteran-Centered and Value-Driven Care, VA Puget Sound Health Care System, US Department of Veterans Affairs, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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Lamba S, Jones KT, Grozdanic T, Moy E. Differences by Sexual Orientation in Patient-Centered Care Outcomes for Veterans Utilizing Primary Care Services at the Veterans Health Administration. LGBT Health 2024; 11:455-464. [PMID: 38837356 DOI: 10.1089/lgbt.2023.0224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose: This study examined the differences by sexual orientation in patient-centered care outcomes (including health care experiences and health-related screening) of veterans utilizing Veterans Health Administration (VHA) primary care. Methods: VHA's adapted version of the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems was used to compare the health care experience of primary care services among sexual minority (SM) and heterosexual veterans. Health care experience measures were dichotomized to "always" versus "less" and stratified by SM status. Health-related screening measures were dichotomous. Survey data were weighted using provided sample weights. Descriptive statistics were performed on sociodemographic characteristics. Logistic regression coefficients were represented as adjusted odds ratios (aORs). A total of 66,348 veterans were included in the analytic sample, of which 2.9% (n = 1,935) identified as SM. Sexual orientation was ascertained by self-report measures by veterans. Results: SM veterans were significantly younger (56.95 years vs. 63.43 years, p < 0.001), were less likely to report that their provider showed respect for what they had to say (aOR: 0.76; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.61-0.95), that they were asked about difficulties taking care of their health (aOR: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.67-0.96), and their provider listened carefully to them (aOR: 0.71; 95% CI: 0.57-0.87) compared to heterosexual veterans. Conclusion: Health care experiences differed between SM and heterosexual veterans who sought VHA primary care, suggesting the need to increase provider trainings, which may improve cultural competency and promote a more welcoming and inclusive environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shane Lamba
- VA Office of Health Equity, Veterans Health Administration, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Kenneth T Jones
- VA Office of Health Equity, Veterans Health Administration, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Tamara Grozdanic
- VA Office of Health Equity, Veterans Health Administration, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Ernest Moy
- VA Office of Health Equity, Veterans Health Administration, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
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Yin Y, Workman TE, Blosnich JR, Brandt CA, Skanderson M, Shao Y, Goulet JL, Zeng-Treitler Q. Sexual and Gender Minority Status and Suicide Mortality: An Explainable Artificial Intelligence Analysis. Int J Public Health 2024; 69:1606855. [PMID: 38770181 PMCID: PMC11103011 DOI: 10.3389/ijph.2024.1606855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Objectives: Suicide risk is elevated in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals. Limited data on LGBT status in healthcare systems hinder our understanding of this risk. This study used natural language processing to extract LGBT status and a deep neural network (DNN) to examine suicidal death risk factors among US Veterans. Methods: Data on 8.8 million veterans with visits between 2010 and 2017 was used. A case-control study was performed, and suicide death risk was analyzed by a DNN. Feature impacts and interactions on the outcome were evaluated. Results: The crude suicide mortality rate was higher in LGBT patients. However, after adjusting for over 200 risk and protective factors, known LGBT status was associated with reduced risk compared to LGBT-Unknown status. Among LGBT patients, black, female, married, and older Veterans have a higher risk, while Veterans of various religions have a lower risk. Conclusion: Our results suggest that disclosed LGBT status is not directly associated with an increase suicide death risk, however, other factors (e.g., depression and anxiety caused by stigma) are associated with suicide death risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Yin
- Washington DC VA Medical Center, United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC, United States
- Biomedical Informatics Center, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - T. Elizabeth Workman
- Washington DC VA Medical Center, United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC, United States
- Biomedical Informatics Center, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - John R. Blosnich
- Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Veterans Health Administration, United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Cynthia A. Brandt
- VA Connecticut Healthcare System, Veterans Health Administration, United States Department of Veterans Affairs, West Haven, CT, United States
| | - Melissa Skanderson
- VA Connecticut Healthcare System, Veterans Health Administration, United States Department of Veterans Affairs, West Haven, CT, United States
| | - Yijun Shao
- Washington DC VA Medical Center, United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC, United States
- Biomedical Informatics Center, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Joseph L. Goulet
- Pain, Research, Informatics, Multi-Morbidities, and Education Center, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, United States
| | - Qing Zeng-Treitler
- Washington DC VA Medical Center, United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC, United States
- Biomedical Informatics Center, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
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Clark KA, Blosnich JR. Sexual Orientation and Disclosure of Suicidal Thoughts Before Suicide Mortality. Am J Prev Med 2023; 65:953-963. [PMID: 37429387 PMCID: PMC10772205 DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2023.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/12/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Disclosure of suicidal thoughts and behaviors represents an opportunity to intervene before suicide mortality, representing a cornerstone for suicide prevention. Sexual minority (e.g., lesbian/gay, bisexual) people experience sharply elevated suicide risk, yet there is scant research on patterns of disclosure of suicidal thoughts and behaviors before suicide that might uncover missed opportunities for suicide prevention. Thus, authors leveraged postmortem suicide data to evaluate associations among sexual orientation, sex, and disclosure of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in the month preceding death. METHODS Data on suicides from the 2013-2019 National Violent Death Reporting System (N=155,516) were classified for sexual orientation and denoted disclosure of suicidal thoughts and behaviors and to whom suicidal thoughts and behaviors were disclosed in the month preceding death. Logistic regression models stratified by sex and adjusted for sociodemographic covariates assessed the associations between sexual orientation and suicidal thoughts and behaviors disclosure. Analyses were conducted from October 2022 to February 2023. RESULTS Among females, sexual minority decedents were 65% more likely to disclose suicidal thoughts and behaviors than heterosexual decedents (95% CI=37%, 99%, p<0.001). No difference in suicidal thoughts and behaviors disclosure was observed between sexual minority and heterosexual men. Of decedents who disclosed suicidal thoughts and behaviors, one in five sexual minority decedents disclosed to a friend/colleague, whereas fewer than 5% disclosed to a healthcare professional. Among sexual minority females, younger age, intimate partner problems, and physical health problems were positively associated with disclosing suicidal thoughts and behaviors. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that reducing suicide mortality in sexual minority populations will require considering contexts beyond the healthcare system, including engaging peer networks. Gatekeeper training for suicide prevention may be an especially promising approach for reducing suicide among sexual minority women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsty A Clark
- Department of Medicine, Health, and Society, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee.
| | - John R Blosnich
- Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
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Hausmann LRM, Cohen AJ, Eliacin J, Gurewich DA, Lee RE, McCoy JL, Meterko M, Michaels Z, Moy EM, Procario GT, Russell LE, Schaefer JH. Developing a brief assessment of social risks for the Veterans Health Administration Survey of Healthcare Experiences of Patients. Health Serv Res 2023; 58:1209-1223. [PMID: 37674359 PMCID: PMC10622278 DOI: 10.1111/1475-6773.14220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/08/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine whether a 6- or 12-month look-back period affected rates of reported social risks in a social risk survey for use in the Veterans Health Administration and to assess associations of social risks with overall health and mental health. STUDY DESIGN Cross-sectional survey of respondents randomized to 6- or 12-month look-back period. DATA SOURCES AND STUDY SETTING Online survey with a convenience sample of Veterans in June and July 2021. DATA COLLECTION/EXTRACTION METHODS Veteran volunteers were recruited by email to complete a survey assessing social risks, including financial strain, adult caregiving, childcare, food insecurity, housing, transportation, internet access, loneliness/isolation, stress, discrimination, and legal issues. Outcomes included self-reported overall health and mental health. Chi-squared tests compared the prevalence of reported social risks between 6- and 12-month look-back periods. Spearman correlations assessed associations among social risks. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression models estimated associations between social risks and fair/poor overall and mental health. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Of 3418 Veterans contacted, 1063 (31.10%) responded (87.11% male; 85.61% non-Hispanic White; median age = 70, interquartile range [IQR] = 61-74). Prevalence of most reported social risks did not significantly differ by look-back period. Most social risks were weakly intercorrelated (median |r| = 0.24, IQR = 0.16-0.31). Except for legal issues, all social risks were associated with higher odds of fair/poor overall health and mental health in bivariate models. In models containing all significant social risks from bivariate models, adult caregiving and stress remained significant predictors of overall health; food insecurity, housing, loneliness/isolation, and stress remained significant for mental health. CONCLUSIONS Six- and 12-month look-back periods yielded similar rates of reported social risks. Although most individual social risks are associated with fair/poor overall and mental health, when examined together, only adult caregiving, stress, loneliness/isolation, food, and housing remain significant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leslie R. M. Hausmann
- Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System (VAPHS); Department of MedicineUniversity of Pittsburgh School of MedicinePittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Alicia J. Cohen
- Center of Innovation in Long Term Services and Supports, VA Providence Healthcare System; Department of Health Services, Policy, and Practice, Brown University School of Public HealthProvidenceRhode IslandUSA
| | - Johanne Eliacin
- National Center for PTSD Women's Health Sciences Division at VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Indiana University School of MedicineIndianapolisIndianaUSA
- Department of Health Services ResearchRegenstrief Institute, IncIndianapolisIndianaUSA
| | - Deborah A. Gurewich
- Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research, VA Boston Healthcare System, Section of General Internal Medicine, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of MedicineBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Richard E. Lee
- Veterans Rural Health Resource CenterWhite River JunctionVermontUSA
| | - Jennifer L. McCoy
- Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion and Office of Research and Development StatCore, VAPHSPittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Mark Meterko
- Analytics and Performance Integration, Office of Quality and Patient SafetyDepartment of Veterans Affairs; Department of Health Law, Policy and Management, Boston University School of Public HealthBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Zachary Michaels
- Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, VAPHSPittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Ernest M. Moy
- Office of Health EquityVeterans Health AdministrationWashingtonDCUSA
| | - Gregory T. Procario
- Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, VAPHSPittsburghPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Lauren E. Russell
- Office of Health EquityVeterans Health AdministrationWashingtonDCUSA
| | - James H. Schaefer
- Analytics and Performance Integration, Office of Quality and Patient SafetyDepartment of Veterans AffairsDurhamNorth CarolinaUSA
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Fan CA, Upham M, Beaver K, Dashtestani K, Skiby MM, Pentel KZ, Rhew IC, Kauth MR, Shipherd JC, Kaysen D, Simpson T, Lehavot K. Recruiting Sexual and Gender Minority Veterans for Health Disparities Research: Recruitment Protocol of a Web-Based Prospective Cohort Study. JMIR Res Protoc 2023; 12:e43824. [PMID: 37782536 PMCID: PMC10580138 DOI: 10.2196/43824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Health for Every Veteran Study is the first Veterans Health Administration-funded, nationwide study on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other sexual and gender minority (LGBTQ+) veterans' health that relies exclusively on primary recruitment methods. This study aimed to recruit 1600 veterans with diverse sexual and gender identities to study the mental health and health risk behaviors of this population. A growing body of literature highlights the health inequities faced by LGBTQ+ veterans when compared with their heterosexual or cisgender peer groups. However, there is little to no guidance in the health disparities literature describing the recruitment of LGBTQ+ veterans. OBJECTIVE This paper provides an overview of the recruitment methodology of Health for Every Veteran Study. We describe the demographics of the enrolled cohort, challenges faced during recruitment, and considerations for recruiting LGBTQ+ veterans for health research. METHODS Recruitment for this study was conducted for 15 months, from September 2019 to December 2020, with the goal of enrolling 1600 veterans evenly split among 8 sexual orientation and gender identity subgroups: cisgender heterosexual women, cisgender lesbian women, cisgender bisexual women, cisgender heterosexual men, cisgender gay men, cisgender bisexual men, transgender women, and transgender men. Three primary recruitment methods were used: social media advertising predominantly through Facebook ads, outreach to community organizations serving veterans and LGBTQ+ individuals across the United States, and contracting with a research recruitment company, Trialfacts. RESULTS Of the 3535 participants screened, 1819 participants met the eligibility criteria, and 1062 completed the baseline survey to enroll. At baseline, 25.24% (268/1062) were recruited from Facebook ads, 40.49% (430/1062) from community outreach, and 34.27% (364/1062) from Trialfacts. Most subgroups neared the target enrollment goals, except for cisgender bisexual men, women, and transgender men. An exploratory group of nonbinary and genderqueer veterans and veterans with diverse gender identities was included in the study. CONCLUSIONS All recruitment methods contributed to significant portions of the enrolled cohort, suggesting that a multipronged approach was a critical and successful strategy in our study of LGBTQ+ veterans. We discuss the strengths and challenges of all recruitment methods, including factors impacting recruitment such as the COVID-19 pandemic, negative comments on Facebook ads, congressional budget delays, and high-volume surges of heterosexual participants from community outreach. In addition, our subgroup stratification offers important disaggregated insights into the recruitment of specific LGBTQ+ subgroups. Finally, the web-based methodology offers important perspectives not only for reaching veterans outside of the Veterans Health Administration but also for research studies taking place in the COVID-19-impacted world. Overall, this study outlines useful recruitment methodologies and lessons learned to inform future research that seeks to recruit marginalized communities. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/43824.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolyn A Fan
- Department of Health Systems and Population Health, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Michelle Upham
- Health Services Research & Development (HSR&D) Center of Innovation (COIN), VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Kristine Beaver
- Health Services Research & Development (HSR&D) Center of Innovation (COIN), VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Krista Dashtestani
- Health Services Research & Development (HSR&D) Center of Innovation (COIN), VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Malachi M Skiby
- Downtown Emergency Service Center (DESC), Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Kimberly Z Pentel
- Pacific Northwest Individual and Couple Therapy, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Isaac C Rhew
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Michael R Kauth
- LGBTQ+ Health Program, Office of Patient Care Services, Veterans Health Administration, Washington, DC, United States
- South Central Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, Michael E DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, TX, United States
- Department of Psychiatry, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Jillian C Shipherd
- LGBTQ+ Health Program, Office of Patient Care Services, Veterans Health Administration, Washington, DC, United States
- National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, United States
- Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Debra Kaysen
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States
- National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, United States
| | - Tracy Simpson
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, United States
- Center of Excellence in Substance Abuse Treatment and Education (CESATE), VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Keren Lehavot
- Department of Health Systems and Population Health, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle, WA, United States
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Livingston WS, Tannahill HS, Meter DJ, Fargo JD, Blais RK. The Association of Military Sexual Harassment/Assault With Suicide Ideation, Plans, Attempts, and Mortality Among US Service Members/Veterans: A Meta-Analysis. TRAUMA, VIOLENCE & ABUSE 2023; 24:2616-2629. [PMID: 35763372 DOI: 10.1177/15248380221109790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Suicide rates continue to increase among service members/veterans. Military sexual harassment/assault (MSH/A) may increase risk of suicide, but little is known about the collective magnitude of associations between MSH/A and suicide outcomes, including ideation, plan, attempt, and mortality. The current meta-analysis addressed this literature gap while testing potential moderators of gender, marital status, discharge status, and military branch. PsycINFO, PubMed, Dissertations/Theses, relevant citation lists, and conference brochures were reviewed for papers that included quantitative analyses in English, U.S. military samples, and measures of MSH/A and suicide ideation/plan/attempt/mortality. The search resulted in 22 studies (N = 10,898,875) measuring the association of MSH/A with suicide ideation (k = 15), plans (k = 1), attempts (k = 14), and mortality (k = 2), with papers published from 2007-2021. MSH/A was associated with suicide ideation (r ¯ = .14) and attempts (r ¯ = .11, ps < .05). The association of MSH/A and suicide ideation and attempts was higher among women relative to men, those identifying as married versus not married, those actively serving compared to discharged, and those reporting service in the Air Force relative to all other branches. The association of MSH/A with suicide plans and mortality was not calculated due to the small number of studies reporting those effect sizes (ks = 1-2). The effect sizes observed suggest MSH/A is part of a larger network of risk factors for suicide. Moderators indicate that suicide risk is higher among specific groups, and prevention strategies would be most effective if they targeted these individuals. This research area would be strengthened by additional studies of plans and mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Diana J Meter
- Department of Psychology, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA
| | - Jamison D Fargo
- Department of Psychology, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA
| | - Rebecca K Blais
- Department of Psychology, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA
- Psychology Department, Arizona State University,Tempe, AZ, USA
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Hahn HA, Blosnich JR. Adverse Childhood Experiences Among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Queer Veterans. Am J Prev Med 2023; 65:704-709. [PMID: 37037327 PMCID: PMC10523897 DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2023.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Adverse childhood experiences portend vulnerability to numerous physical and mental health concerns across the lifespan. Separate bodies of work suggest that both lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer individuals and military veterans are more likely to report adverse childhood experiences than their non-lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer and non-veteran counterparts, respectively. Although lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer veterans experience health disparities compared with non-lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer veterans, the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences among individuals with both lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer and veteran identities is yet unknown. METHODS Participants were U.S. military veterans (N=14,461) from 18 states that included Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and adverse childhood experiences modules in the 2019 and 2020 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the odds of adverse childhood experiences reported by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer veterans compared with those reported by non-lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer veterans. Analyses were conducted in 2023. RESULTS While accounting for sociodemographic factors, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer veterans were more likely to report living with someone who experienced mental illness (AOR=2.17, 95% CI=1.35, 3.51), emotional abuse (AOR=1.58, 95% CI=1.11, 2.25), and sexual abuse (AOR=2.21, 95% CI=1.29, 3.76) than non-lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer veterans. CONCLUSIONS With past work indicating that childhood abuse experiences are especially predictive of adverse health in adulthood, these findings suggest that a higher prevalence of adverse childhood experiences among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer veterans may contribute to health disparities among this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hunter A Hahn
- Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - John R Blosnich
- Center for Health Equity Research and Promotion, VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California.
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9
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Clark KA, Sexton JF, McKay T. Association of Sexual Orientation with Exposure to Suicide and Related Emotional Distress among US Adults. Arch Suicide Res 2023; 27:1363-1372. [PMID: 36165026 PMCID: PMC10040471 DOI: 10.1080/13811118.2022.2127386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Suicide bereavement is a significant public health concern. Using nationally representative survey data, we quantify sexual orientation differences in frequency of suicide exposure and suicide exposure-related emotional distress among US adults. METHODS We used cross-sectional data from the 2016 General Social Survey (GSS) and included sexual minority (i.e., lesbian, gay, bisexual; (n = 74, 5.3%) and heterosexual (n = 1,207, 94.7%) adults. The GSS asked several questions related to suicide exposure including number of lifetime suicide exposures, emotional distress related to suicide exposure, time elapsed since suicide exposure, and relationship(s) and perceived closeness to the person(s) who died. We use descriptive statistics to describe differences in suicide exposure characteristics across sexual orientation. Among those who were exposed to at least one suicide (n = 698, 51.1%), a weighted multivariable logistic regression model examined the association between sexual orientation and suicide exposure-related emotional distress adjusting for confounders. RESULTS Sexual minorities reported a similar number of lifetime suicide exposures and were not significantly different from heterosexuals on other suicide exposure characteristics. However, sexual minority, compared to heterosexual, respondents experienced 3.14 greater odds of severe emotional distress related to suicide exposure (95% CI = 1.42-6.94, p = .005). CONCLUSION Perhaps due to stigmatizing mourning experiences, sexual minority adults are particularly vulnerable to severe suicide exposure-related emotional distress. Future research to understand the scope of sexual minority-specific bereavement support services and public policies (e.g., bereavement leave) as well as intervention development to support sexual minority adults' coping in the wake of suicide exposure is warranted. HIGHLIGHTSApproximately half of sexual minority US adults report a lifetime suicide exposureSexual minority adults experience more severe suicide exposure-related emotional distressPostvention care should be tailored to meet the needs of sexual minority adults.
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Chum A, Kim C, Nielsen A, Dusing GJ, O'Campo P, Matheson FI, Barker L, Vigod S, Ling V, Fung K, Kennedy S. Disparities in Suicide-Related Behaviors Across Sexual Orientations by Gender: A Retrospective Cohort Study Using Linked Health Administrative Data. Am J Psychiatry 2023; 180:660-667. [PMID: 37282552 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.20220763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The authors used a population-representative sample and health administrative data to quantify suicide-related behavior leading to acute care or deaths across self-identified heterosexual, gay/lesbian, and bisexual individuals. METHODS Data from a population-based survey (N=123,995) were linked to health administrative data (2002-2019), and differences in time to suicide-related behavior events across sexual orientations were examined using Cox proportional hazards regression. RESULTS The crude incidence rates of suicide-related behavior events per 100,000 person-years were 224.7 for heterosexuals, 664.7 for gay/lesbian individuals, and 5,911.9 for bisexual individuals. In fully adjusted (gender-combined) models, bisexual individuals were 2.98 times (95% CI=2.08-4.27) more likely to have an event, and gay men and lesbians 2.10 times (95% CI=1.18-3.71) more likely, compared with heterosexual individuals. CONCLUSIONS In a large population-based sample of Ontario residents, using clinically relevant outcomes, the study found gay/lesbian and bisexual individuals to be at elevated risk of suicide-related behavior events. Increased education among psychiatric professionals is needed to improve awareness of and sensitivity to the elevated risk of suicide-related behavior among sexual minority individuals, and further research on interventions is needed to reduce such behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antony Chum
- School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, Toronto (Chum, Kim, Dusing); Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto (Chum, Matheson); MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto (Chum, Nielsen, O'Campo, Matheson); Department of Psychiatry, Women's College Hospital, Toronto (Barker, Vigod); Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto (Vigod); Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto (Ling, Fung); Centre for Depression and Suicide Studies, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto (Kennedy)
| | - Chungah Kim
- School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, Toronto (Chum, Kim, Dusing); Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto (Chum, Matheson); MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto (Chum, Nielsen, O'Campo, Matheson); Department of Psychiatry, Women's College Hospital, Toronto (Barker, Vigod); Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto (Vigod); Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto (Ling, Fung); Centre for Depression and Suicide Studies, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto (Kennedy)
| | - Andrew Nielsen
- School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, Toronto (Chum, Kim, Dusing); Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto (Chum, Matheson); MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto (Chum, Nielsen, O'Campo, Matheson); Department of Psychiatry, Women's College Hospital, Toronto (Barker, Vigod); Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto (Vigod); Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto (Ling, Fung); Centre for Depression and Suicide Studies, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto (Kennedy)
| | - Gabriel John Dusing
- School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, Toronto (Chum, Kim, Dusing); Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto (Chum, Matheson); MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto (Chum, Nielsen, O'Campo, Matheson); Department of Psychiatry, Women's College Hospital, Toronto (Barker, Vigod); Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto (Vigod); Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto (Ling, Fung); Centre for Depression and Suicide Studies, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto (Kennedy)
| | - Patricia O'Campo
- School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, Toronto (Chum, Kim, Dusing); Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto (Chum, Matheson); MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto (Chum, Nielsen, O'Campo, Matheson); Department of Psychiatry, Women's College Hospital, Toronto (Barker, Vigod); Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto (Vigod); Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto (Ling, Fung); Centre for Depression and Suicide Studies, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto (Kennedy)
| | - Flora I Matheson
- School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, Toronto (Chum, Kim, Dusing); Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto (Chum, Matheson); MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto (Chum, Nielsen, O'Campo, Matheson); Department of Psychiatry, Women's College Hospital, Toronto (Barker, Vigod); Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto (Vigod); Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto (Ling, Fung); Centre for Depression and Suicide Studies, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto (Kennedy)
| | - Lucy Barker
- School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, Toronto (Chum, Kim, Dusing); Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto (Chum, Matheson); MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto (Chum, Nielsen, O'Campo, Matheson); Department of Psychiatry, Women's College Hospital, Toronto (Barker, Vigod); Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto (Vigod); Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto (Ling, Fung); Centre for Depression and Suicide Studies, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto (Kennedy)
| | - Simone Vigod
- School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, Toronto (Chum, Kim, Dusing); Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto (Chum, Matheson); MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto (Chum, Nielsen, O'Campo, Matheson); Department of Psychiatry, Women's College Hospital, Toronto (Barker, Vigod); Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto (Vigod); Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto (Ling, Fung); Centre for Depression and Suicide Studies, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto (Kennedy)
| | - Vicki Ling
- School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, Toronto (Chum, Kim, Dusing); Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto (Chum, Matheson); MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto (Chum, Nielsen, O'Campo, Matheson); Department of Psychiatry, Women's College Hospital, Toronto (Barker, Vigod); Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto (Vigod); Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto (Ling, Fung); Centre for Depression and Suicide Studies, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto (Kennedy)
| | - Kinwah Fung
- School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, Toronto (Chum, Kim, Dusing); Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto (Chum, Matheson); MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto (Chum, Nielsen, O'Campo, Matheson); Department of Psychiatry, Women's College Hospital, Toronto (Barker, Vigod); Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto (Vigod); Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto (Ling, Fung); Centre for Depression and Suicide Studies, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto (Kennedy)
| | - Sidney Kennedy
- School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, Toronto (Chum, Kim, Dusing); Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto (Chum, Matheson); MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto (Chum, Nielsen, O'Campo, Matheson); Department of Psychiatry, Women's College Hospital, Toronto (Barker, Vigod); Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto (Vigod); Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto (Ling, Fung); Centre for Depression and Suicide Studies, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto (Kennedy)
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11
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Shebl FM, Qian Y, Foote JHA, Wattananimitgul N, Reddy KP, Neilan AM, Ciaranello AL, Losina E, Freedberg KA, Hyle EP. The association between all-cause mortality and HIV acquisition risk groups in the United States, 2001-2014. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0290113. [PMID: 37590260 PMCID: PMC10434931 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0290113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/19/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate associations between all-cause mortality and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) acquisition risk groups among people without HIV in the United States. METHODS We used data from 23,657 (NHANES) participants (2001-2014) and the Linked Mortality File to classify individuals without known HIV into HIV acquisition risk groups: people who ever injected drugs (ever-PWID); men who have sex with men (MSM); heterosexually active people at increased risk for HIV (HIH), using low income as a proxy for increased risk. We used Cox proportional hazards models to estimate adjusted and unadjusted all-cause mortality hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS Compared with sex-specific heterosexually active people at average risk for HIV (HAH), the adjusted HR (95% CI) were: male ever-PWID 1.67 (1.14, 2.46), female ever-PWID 3.50 (2.04, 6.01), MSM 1.51 (1.00, 2.27), male HIH 1.68 (1.04, 2.06), female HIH 2.35 (1.87, 2.95), and male ever-PWID 1.67 (1.14, 2.46). CONCLUSIONS Most people at increased risk for HIV in the US experience higher all-cause mortality than people at average risk. Strategies addressing social determinants that increase HIV risk should be incorporated into HIV prevention and other health promotion programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatma M. Shebl
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, Unite States of America
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Yiqi Qian
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, Unite States of America
| | - Julia H. A. Foote
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, Unite States of America
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Nattanicha Wattananimitgul
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, Unite States of America
| | - Krishna P. Reddy
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, Unite States of America
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Anne M. Neilan
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, Unite States of America
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Division of General Academic Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Andrea L. Ciaranello
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, Unite States of America
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Harvard University Center for AIDS Research (CFAR), Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Elena Losina
- Harvard University Center for AIDS Research (CFAR), Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Kenneth A. Freedberg
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, Unite States of America
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Harvard University Center for AIDS Research (CFAR), Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Emily P. Hyle
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, Unite States of America
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Harvard University Center for AIDS Research (CFAR), Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
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12
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Shortreed SM, Walker RL, Johnson E, Wellman R, Cruz M, Ziebell R, Coley RY, Yaseen ZS, Dharmarajan S, Penfold RB, Ahmedani BK, Rossom RC, Beck A, Boggs JM, Simon GE. Complex modeling with detailed temporal predictors does not improve health records-based suicide risk prediction. NPJ Digit Med 2023; 6:47. [PMID: 36959268 PMCID: PMC10036475 DOI: 10.1038/s41746-023-00772-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Suicide risk prediction models can identify individuals for targeted intervention. Discussions of transparency, explainability, and transportability in machine learning presume complex prediction models with many variables outperform simpler models. We compared random forest, artificial neural network, and ensemble models with 1500 temporally defined predictors to logistic regression models. Data from 25,800,888 mental health visits made by 3,081,420 individuals in 7 health systems were used to train and evaluate suicidal behavior prediction models. Model performance was compared across several measures. All models performed well (area under the receiver operating curve [AUC]: 0.794-0.858). Ensemble models performed best, but improvements over a regression model with 100 predictors were minimal (AUC improvements: 0.006-0.020). Results are consistent across performance metrics and subgroups defined by race, ethnicity, and sex. Our results suggest simpler parametric models, which are easier to implement as part of routine clinical practice, perform comparably to more complex machine learning methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan M Shortreed
- Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, 1730 Minor Avenue, Ste 1600, Seattle, WA, 98101, USA.
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, 1705 NE Pacific St, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA.
| | - Rod L Walker
- Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, 1730 Minor Avenue, Ste 1600, Seattle, WA, 98101, USA
| | - Eric Johnson
- Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, 1730 Minor Avenue, Ste 1600, Seattle, WA, 98101, USA
| | - Robert Wellman
- Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, 1730 Minor Avenue, Ste 1600, Seattle, WA, 98101, USA
| | - Maricela Cruz
- Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, 1730 Minor Avenue, Ste 1600, Seattle, WA, 98101, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, 1705 NE Pacific St, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Rebecca Ziebell
- Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, 1730 Minor Avenue, Ste 1600, Seattle, WA, 98101, USA
| | - R Yates Coley
- Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, 1730 Minor Avenue, Ste 1600, Seattle, WA, 98101, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington, 1705 NE Pacific St, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Zimri S Yaseen
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | | | - Robert B Penfold
- Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, 1730 Minor Avenue, Ste 1600, Seattle, WA, 98101, USA
| | - Brian K Ahmedani
- Center for Health Policy & Health Services Research, Henry Ford Health System, 1 Ford Place, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA
| | - Rebecca C Rossom
- HealthPartners Institute, Division of Research, 8170 33rd Ave S, Minneapolis, MN, 55425, USA
| | - Arne Beck
- Kaiser Permanente Colorado Institute for Health Research, 2550 S. Parker Road, Suite 200, Aurora, CO, 80014, USA
| | - Jennifer M Boggs
- Kaiser Permanente Colorado Institute for Health Research, 2550 S. Parker Road, Suite 200, Aurora, CO, 80014, USA
| | - Greg E Simon
- Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, 1730 Minor Avenue, Ste 1600, Seattle, WA, 98101, USA
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13
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Fu S, Wang L, Moon S, Zong N, He H, Pejaver V, Relevo R, Walden A, Haendel M, Chute CG, Liu H. Recommended practices and ethical considerations for natural language processing-assisted observational research: A scoping review. Clin Transl Sci 2023; 16:398-411. [PMID: 36478394 PMCID: PMC10014687 DOI: 10.1111/cts.13463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
An increasing number of studies have reported using natural language processing (NLP) to assist observational research by extracting clinical information from electronic health records (EHRs). Currently, no standardized reporting guidelines for NLP-assisted observational studies exist. The absence of detailed reporting guidelines may create ambiguity in the use of NLP-derived content, knowledge gaps in the current research reporting practices, and reproducibility challenges. To address these issues, we conducted a scoping review of NLP-assisted observational clinical studies and examined their reporting practices, focusing on NLP methodology and evaluation. Through our investigation, we discovered a high variation regarding the reporting practices, such as inconsistent use of references for measurement studies, variation in the reporting location (reference, appendix, and manuscript), and different granularity of NLP methodology and evaluation details. To promote the wide adoption and utilization of NLP solutions in clinical research, we outline several perspectives that align with the six principles released by the World Health Organization (WHO) that guide the ethical use of artificial intelligence for health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunyang Fu
- Department of AI and Informatics Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Liwei Wang
- Department of AI and Informatics Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Sungrim Moon
- Department of AI and Informatics Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Nansu Zong
- Department of AI and Informatics Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Huan He
- Department of AI and Informatics Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Vikas Pejaver
- Institute for Genomic Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.,Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Rose Relevo
- The National Center for Data to Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Anita Walden
- The National Center for Data to Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Melissa Haendel
- Center for Health AI, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | | | - Hongfang Liu
- Department of AI and Informatics Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
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14
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Ruiz F, Burgo-Black L, Hunt SC, Miller M, Spelman JF. A Practical Review of Suicide Among Veterans: Preventive and Proactive Measures for Health Care Institutions and Providers. Public Health Rep 2023; 138:223-231. [PMID: 35403486 PMCID: PMC10031829 DOI: 10.1177/00333549221085240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Suicide rates among veterans are higher than those of the general US population. Although veterans compose only 7.6% of the US population, nearly 14% of American adult suicides are among veterans. The rate of suicide is 1.5 times higher among all veterans and 2.1 times higher among female veterans compared with the general population. Only 47% of all veterans are enrolled in the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Healthcare System, leaving a large number either not receiving health care or receiving it outside the VA. Recent legislation has improved access to care for veterans outside the VA, highlighting the need for a broad public health approach to address veteran suicide and the need for all health care institutions and clinicians to be familiar with the unique health concerns in this population. The purpose of this narrative review was to summarize the risk factors contributing to veteran suicide and to provide guidance on how to assess and mitigate these risks. Suicide is preventable through recognition of risk and prompt intervention. Health care providers both inside and outside the VA system are uniquely situated at the intersection of the many contributing factors to veteran suicide and should have a structured, proactive approach to address the problem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Ruiz
- Frank H. Netter MD School of
Medicine–Quinnipiac University, North Haven, CT, USA
| | - Lucile Burgo-Black
- VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West
Haven, CT, USA
- Department of General Internal
Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Stephen C. Hunt
- VA Puget Sound Healthcare Systems,
Seattle, WA, USA
- University of Washington School of
Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Matthew Miller
- Office of Mental Health and Suicide
Prevention, US Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC, USA
- Suicide Prevention Program and Veterans
Crisis Line, Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, US Department of
Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Juliette F. Spelman
- VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West
Haven, CT, USA
- Department of General Internal
Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
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15
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Ramchand R, Schuler MS, Ayer L, Colpe L, Schoenbaum M. Mental Health Service Use Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Adults Who Report Having Attempted Suicide. Psychiatr Serv 2023; 74:188-191. [PMID: 35895841 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.20220132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study estimated mental health service use among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adults in the United States who reported having made a suicide attempt. METHODS Data came from the pooled 2015-2019 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health. Of the 191,954 adult respondents, 1,946 reported a past-year suicide attempt. Survey-weighted descriptive and regression analyses were conducted to compare mental health service use among LGB and heterosexual adults. RESULTS Three percent of LGB adults (N=598) reported having attempted suicide in the past year, compared with 0.5% of heterosexual adults (N=1,348). Mental health treatment use was significantly higher among LGB adults than among heterosexual adults (64% versus 56%) before analyses were adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics. CONCLUSIONS Because suicide attempts and mental health use are elevated among LGB adults, clinicians must provide evidence-based approaches for identifying and managing suicide risk to LGB adults in an affirming manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajeev Ramchand
- National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland (Ramchand, Ayer, Colpe, Schoenbaum); RAND Corporation, Arlington, Virginia (Ramchand, Ayer), and Pittsburgh (Schuler)
| | - Megan S Schuler
- National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland (Ramchand, Ayer, Colpe, Schoenbaum); RAND Corporation, Arlington, Virginia (Ramchand, Ayer), and Pittsburgh (Schuler)
| | - Lynsay Ayer
- National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland (Ramchand, Ayer, Colpe, Schoenbaum); RAND Corporation, Arlington, Virginia (Ramchand, Ayer), and Pittsburgh (Schuler)
| | - Lisa Colpe
- National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland (Ramchand, Ayer, Colpe, Schoenbaum); RAND Corporation, Arlington, Virginia (Ramchand, Ayer), and Pittsburgh (Schuler)
| | - Michael Schoenbaum
- National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland (Ramchand, Ayer, Colpe, Schoenbaum); RAND Corporation, Arlington, Virginia (Ramchand, Ayer), and Pittsburgh (Schuler)
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16
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Walker LE, Poltavskiy E, Howard JT, Janak JC, Watrous J, Alcover K, Pettey WBP, Ambardar S, Meyer E, Gundlapalli AV, Stewart IJ. Suicide attempts and mental health diagnoses in combat-injured service members: A retrospective cohort study. Suicide Life Threat Behav 2022; 53:227-240. [PMID: 36576267 DOI: 10.1111/sltb.12938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Examinations of risk factors for suicide attempt in United States service members at high risk of mental health diagnoses, such as those with combat injuries, are essential to guiding prevention and intervention efforts. METHODS Retrospective cohort study of 8727 combat-injured patients matched to deployed, non-injured patients utilizing Department of Defense and Veterans Affairs administrative records. RESULTS Combat injury was positively associated with suicide attempt in the univariate model (HR = 1.75, 95% CI 1.5-2.1), but lost significance after adjustment for mental health diagnoses. Utilizing Latent Transition Analysis in the combat-injured group, we identified five mental/behavioral health profiles: (1) Few mental health diagnoses, (2) PTSD and depressive disorders, (3) Adjustment disorder, (4) Multiple mental health comorbidities, and (5) Multiple mental health comorbidities with alcohol use disorder (AUD). Multiple mental health comorbidities with AUD had the highest suicide attempt rate throughout the study and more than four times that of Multiple mental health comorbidities in the first study year (23.4 vs. 5.1 per 1000 person years, respectively). CONCLUSION Findings indicate that (1) combat injury's impact on suicide attempt is attenuated by mental health and (2) AUD with multiple mental health comorbidities confers heightened suicide attempt risk in combat-injured service members.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren E Walker
- The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, USA.,Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Eduard Poltavskiy
- David Grant USAF Medical Center, Travis AFB, Fairfield, California, USA
| | | | | | - Jessica Watrous
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.,Leidos Inc., San Diego, California, USA
| | - Karl Alcover
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Warren B P Pettey
- VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.,University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Shiva Ambardar
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.,Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia, USA
| | - Eric Meyer
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Adi V Gundlapalli
- VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.,University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Ian J Stewart
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.,Military Cardiovascular Outcomes Research (MiCOR), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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17
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Fink DS, Stohl M, Mannes ZL, Shmulewitz D, Wall M, Gutkind S, Olfson M, Gradus J, Keyhani S, Maynard C, Keyes KM, Sherman S, Martins S, Saxon AJ, Hasin DS. Comparing mental and physical health of U.S. veterans by VA healthcare use: implications for generalizability of research in the VA electronic health records. BMC Health Serv Res 2022; 22:1500. [PMID: 36494829 PMCID: PMC9733218 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-022-08899-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) electronic health records (EHR) offer a rich source of big data to study medical and health care questions, but patient eligibility and preferences may limit generalizability of findings. We therefore examined the representativeness of VA veterans by comparing veterans using VA healthcare services to those who do not. METHODS We analyzed data on 3051 veteran participants age ≥ 18 years in the 2019 National Health Interview Survey. Weighted logistic regression was used to model participant characteristics, health conditions, pain, and self-reported health by past year VA healthcare use and generate predicted marginal prevalences, which were used to calculate Cohen's d of group differences in absolute risk by past-year VA healthcare use. RESULTS Among veterans, 30.4% had past-year VA healthcare use. Veterans with lower income and members of racial/ethnic minority groups were more likely to report past-year VA healthcare use. Health conditions overrepresented in past-year VA healthcare users included chronic medical conditions (80.6% vs. 69.4%, d = 0.36), pain (78.9% vs. 65.9%; d = 0.35), mental distress (11.6% vs. 5.9%; d = 0.47), anxiety (10.8% vs. 4.1%; d = 0.67), and fair/poor self-reported health (27.9% vs. 18.0%; d = 0.40). CONCLUSIONS Heterogeneity in veteran sociodemographic and health characteristics was observed by past-year VA healthcare use. Researchers working with VA EHR data should consider how the patient selection process may relate to the exposures and outcomes under study. Statistical reweighting may be needed to generalize risk estimates from the VA EHR data to the overall veteran population.
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Affiliation(s)
- David S. Fink
- grid.413734.60000 0000 8499 1112New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY USA
| | - Malka Stohl
- grid.413734.60000 0000 8499 1112New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY USA
| | - Zachary L. Mannes
- grid.21729.3f0000000419368729Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY USA
| | - Dvora Shmulewitz
- grid.413734.60000 0000 8499 1112New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY USA ,grid.21729.3f0000000419368729Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY USA
| | - Melanie Wall
- grid.413734.60000 0000 8499 1112New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY USA ,grid.21729.3f0000000419368729Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY USA
| | - Sarah Gutkind
- grid.21729.3f0000000419368729Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY USA
| | - Mark Olfson
- grid.413734.60000 0000 8499 1112New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY USA ,grid.21729.3f0000000419368729Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY USA
| | - Jaimie Gradus
- grid.189504.10000 0004 1936 7558Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA USA
| | - Salomeh Keyhani
- Veteran Affairs, San Francisco, VA USA ,grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811University of California, San Francisco, CA USA
| | - Charles Maynard
- grid.413919.70000 0004 0420 6540Veteran Affairs, Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA USA ,grid.34477.330000000122986657University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA
| | - Katherine M. Keyes
- grid.21729.3f0000000419368729Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY USA
| | - Scott Sherman
- grid.137628.90000 0004 1936 8753New York University, New York, NY USA
| | - Silvia Martins
- grid.21729.3f0000000419368729Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY USA
| | - Andrew J. Saxon
- grid.413919.70000 0004 0420 6540Veteran Affairs, Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, WA USA ,grid.34477.330000000122986657University of Washington, Seattle, WA USA
| | - Deborah S. Hasin
- grid.413734.60000 0000 8499 1112New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY USA ,grid.21729.3f0000000419368729Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY USA ,grid.239585.00000 0001 2285 2675Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University Medical Center, 1051 Riverside Dr., Unit 123, New York, NY 10032 USA
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18
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Olfson M, Cosgrove CM, Altekruse SF, Wall MM, Blanco C. Living Alone and Suicide Risk in the United States, 2008‒2019. Am J Public Health 2022; 112:1774-1782. [PMID: 36383944 PMCID: PMC9670225 DOI: 10.2105/ajph.2022.307080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Objectives. To evaluate the association between living alone and suicide and how it varies across sociodemographic characteristics. Methods. A nationally representative sample of adults from the 2008 American Community Survey (n = 3 310 000) was followed through 2019 for mortality. Cox models estimated hazard ratios of suicide across living arrangements (living alone or with others) at the time of the survey. Total and sociodemographically stratified models compared hazards of suicide of people living alone to people living with others. Results. Annual suicide rates per 100 000 person-years were 23.0 among adults living alone and 13.2 among adults living with others. The age-, sex-, and race/ethnicity-adjusted hazard ratio of suicide for living alone was 1.75 (95% confidence interval = 1.64, 1.87). Adjusted hazards of suicide associated with living alone varied across sociodemographic groups and were highest for adults with 4-year college degrees and annual incomes greater than $125 000 and lowest for Black individuals. Conclusions. Living alone is a risk marker for suicide with the strongest associations for adults with the highest levels of income and education. Because these associations were not controlled for psychiatric disorders, they should be interpreted as noncausal. (Am J Public Health. 2022;112(12):1774-1782. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2022.307080).
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Olfson
- Mark Olfson and Melanie M. Wall are with the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, and with the New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY. Candace M. Cosgrove is with the US Census Bureau, Suitland, MD. Sean F. Altekruse is with National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, Bethesda, MD. Carlos Blanco is with the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Division of Epidemiology, Services, and Prevention Research, Rockville, MD
| | - Candace M Cosgrove
- Mark Olfson and Melanie M. Wall are with the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, and with the New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY. Candace M. Cosgrove is with the US Census Bureau, Suitland, MD. Sean F. Altekruse is with National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, Bethesda, MD. Carlos Blanco is with the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Division of Epidemiology, Services, and Prevention Research, Rockville, MD
| | - Sean F Altekruse
- Mark Olfson and Melanie M. Wall are with the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, and with the New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY. Candace M. Cosgrove is with the US Census Bureau, Suitland, MD. Sean F. Altekruse is with National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, Bethesda, MD. Carlos Blanco is with the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Division of Epidemiology, Services, and Prevention Research, Rockville, MD
| | - Melanie M Wall
- Mark Olfson and Melanie M. Wall are with the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, and with the New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY. Candace M. Cosgrove is with the US Census Bureau, Suitland, MD. Sean F. Altekruse is with National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, Bethesda, MD. Carlos Blanco is with the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Division of Epidemiology, Services, and Prevention Research, Rockville, MD
| | - Carlos Blanco
- Mark Olfson and Melanie M. Wall are with the Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, and with the New York State Psychiatric Institute, New York, NY. Candace M. Cosgrove is with the US Census Bureau, Suitland, MD. Sean F. Altekruse is with National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Division of Cardiovascular Sciences, Bethesda, MD. Carlos Blanco is with the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Division of Epidemiology, Services, and Prevention Research, Rockville, MD
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19
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Lehavot K, Beaver K, Rhew I, Dashtestani K, Upham M, Shipherd J, Kauth M, Kaysen D, Simpson T. Disparities in Mental Health and Health Risk Behaviors for LGBT Veteran Subgroups in a National U.S. Survey. LGBT Health 2022; 9:543-554. [PMID: 35766966 DOI: 10.1089/lgbt.2022.0039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose: This study examined differences in mental health and health risk behaviors across sexual orientation and gender identity among U.S. veterans. Methods: Veterans were recruited through targeted social media advertising, community organizations, and listservs to complete an online survey (N = 1062). Generalized linear regression was used to evaluate differences in outcomes between subgroups, which included cisgender heterosexual men and women, lesbian women, gay men, bisexual men and women, transgender men and women, and veterans with other gender identities. Results: Transgender men and women reported a significantly higher prevalence of lifetime suicide plans and attempts compared to all other subgroups within the respective genders. Beyond this finding, patterns of all outcomes varied by gender. Compared to other subgroups of men, transgender men reported higher prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder, whereas cisgender gay men reported higher prevalence of lifetime cocaine use and positive human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) status. Within the women subgroups, all LGBT subgroups reported higher prevalence of lifetime smoking and past-year marijuana use compared to heterosexual women. Cisgender lesbian women also reported higher prevalence of past-month heavy episodic drinking, and cisgender bisexual women reported higher prevalence of lifetime cocaine and stimulant use compared to other groups. Conclusion: Transgender women and men reported significantly higher prevalence of lifetime suicide plans and attempts than other groups, highlighting this as an area in need of urgent public health attention. Other disparity patterns indicated the importance of examining subgroups within the LGBT veteran community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keren Lehavot
- Health Services Research & Development (HSR&D) Center of Innovation (COIN), VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Department of Health Systems and Population Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Kristine Beaver
- Health Services Research & Development (HSR&D) Center of Innovation (COIN), VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Isaac Rhew
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Krista Dashtestani
- Health Services Research & Development (HSR&D) Center of Innovation (COIN), VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Michelle Upham
- Health Services Research & Development (HSR&D) Center of Innovation (COIN), VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Jillian Shipherd
- LGBTQ+ Health Program, Office of Patient Care Services, Veterans Health Administration, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.,National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Michael Kauth
- LGBTQ+ Health Program, Office of Patient Care Services, Veterans Health Administration, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.,South Central Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Houston, Texas, USA.,Department of Psychiatry, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Debra Kaysen
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Tracy Simpson
- Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Center of Excellence in Substance Abuse Treatment and Education (CESATE), VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center (MIRECC), VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Washington, USA
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20
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Dolsen EA, Byers AL, Flentje A, Goulet JL, Jasuja GK, Lynch KE, Maguen S, Neylan TC. Sleep disturbance and suicide risk among sexual and gender minority people. Neurobiol Stress 2022; 21:100488. [PMID: 36164391 PMCID: PMC9508603 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2022.100488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Sleep disturbance has emerged as an independent, mechanistic, and modifiable risk factor for suicide. Sexual and gender minority (SGM) people disproportionately experience sleep disturbance and are at higher risk of death by suicide relative to cisgender and/or heterosexual individuals. The present narrative review evaluates nascent research related to sleep disturbance and suicide-related thoughts and behaviors (STBs) among SGM populations, and discusses how experiences of minority stress may explain heightened risk among SGM people. Although there is a growing understanding of the link between sleep disturbance and STBs, most research has not been conducted in SGM populations or has not examined suicide as an outcome. Research is needed to examine whether and how aspects of sleep disturbances relate to STBs among SGM people in order to better tailor sleep treatments for SGM populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily A Dolsen
- Mental Health Service, San Francisco Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Centers, San Francisco Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Amy L Byers
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Research Service, San Francisco Veterans Affairs Health Care System, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Department of Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Annesa Flentje
- Department of Community Health Systems, School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Alliance Health Project, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - Joseph L Goulet
- Yale School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.,VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, USA
| | - Guneet K Jasuja
- Center for Healthcare Organization and Implementation Research, VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, MA, USA.,Section of General Internal Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kristine E Lynch
- VA Informatics and Computing Infrastructure (VINCI), VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.,University of Utah School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Epidemiology, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Shira Maguen
- Mental Health Service, San Francisco Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Centers, San Francisco Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Thomas C Neylan
- Mental Health Service, San Francisco Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.,Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Centers, San Francisco Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, San Francisco, CA, USA
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21
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Substance use disorders and COVID-19: An analysis of nation-wide Veterans Health Administration electronic health records. Drug Alcohol Depend 2022; 234:109383. [PMID: 35279457 PMCID: PMC8891118 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Substance use disorders (SUD) elevate the risk for COVID-19 hospitalization, but studies are inconsistent on the relationship of SUD to COVID-19 mortality. METHODS Veterans Health Administration (VHA) patients treated in 2019 and evaluated in 2020 for COVID-19 (n=5,556,315), of whom 62,303 (1.1%) tested positive for COVID-19 (COVID-19+). Outcomes were COVID-19+ by 11/01/20, hospitalization, ICU admission, or death within 60 days of a positive test. Main predictors were any ICD-10-CM SUDs, with substance-specific SUDs (cannabis, cocaine, opioid, stimulant, sedative) explored individually. Logistic regression produced unadjusted and covariate-adjusted odds ratios (OR; aOR). RESULTS Among COVID-19+ patients, 19.25% were hospitalized, 7.71% admitted to ICU, and 5.84% died. In unadjusted models, any SUD and all substance-specific SUDs except cannabis use disorder were associated with COVID-19+(ORs=1.06-1.85); adjusted models produced similar results. Any SUD and all substance-specific SUDs were associated with hospitalization (aORs: 1.24-1.91). Any SUD, cocaine and opioid disorder were associated with ICU admission in unadjusted but not adjusted models. Any SUD, cannabis, cocaine, and stimulant disorders were inversely associated with mortality in unadjusted models (OR=0.27-0.46). After adjustment, associations with mortality were no longer significant. In ad hoc analyses, adjusted odds of mortality were lower among the 49.9% of COVID-19+ patients with SUD who had SUD treatment in 2019, but not among those without such treatment. CONCLUSIONS In VHA patients, SUDs are associated with COVID-19 hospitalization but not COVID-19 mortality. SUD treatment may provide closer monitoring of care, ensuring that these patients received needed medical attention, enabling them to ultimately survive serious illness.
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22
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Ramchand R, Schuler MS, Schoenbaum M, Colpe L, Ayer L. Suicidality Among Sexual Minority Adults: Gender, Age, and Race/Ethnicity Differences. Am J Prev Med 2022; 62:193-202. [PMID: 35000689 DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2021.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals have elevated suicide risk, but there is little information available about how this risk may vary by gender, age, and race/ethnicity. METHODS This study examined past-year suicide thoughts, plans, and attempts among adult respondents to the 2015-2019 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (pooled N=191,954). Logistic regression was used to examine the differences between lesbian, gay, and bisexual and heterosexual adults for each outcome, once by gender and age category and once by gender and race/ethnicity category, while controlling for core sociodemographic characteristics. Race/ethnicity and age differences were also estimated within sexual identity groups. RESULTS Suicide thoughts, plans, and attempts were more common among lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults in almost every age and race/ethnicity category relative to that among corresponding heterosexual adults. In some age and race/ethnicity categories, bisexual women were more likely to report suicidal thoughts than lesbian/gay women. Each outcome decreased significantly across age groups among women of all sexual identity groups and heterosexual men; yet, this age effect was less pronounced among gay and bisexual men. Black women had significantly lower rates of suicidal thoughts and plans than White women in all sexual identity groups. CONCLUSIONS In light of consistently elevated rates of suicide thoughts and behaviors, lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults may expressly benefit from enhanced prevention, identification, and treatment of suicide risk. Additional research is needed to assess the associations between sexual identity and suicide mortality as well as to understand the heterogeneity in suicide risk among lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth, particularly by race/ethnicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajeev Ramchand
- National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland; RAND Corporation, Arlington, Virginia.
| | | | | | - Lisa Colpe
- National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Lynsay Ayer
- National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland; RAND Corporation, Arlington, Virginia
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23
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Adzrago D, Osaghae I, Ananaba N, Ayieko S, Fwelo P, Anikpezie N, Cherry D. Examining differences in suicidality between and within mental health disorders and sexual identity among adults in the United States. AIMS Public Health 2021; 8:636-654. [PMID: 34786425 PMCID: PMC8568595 DOI: 10.3934/publichealth.2021051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Suicide is a leading but preventable cause of death and is preceded by domains of thoughts, plans, and attempts. We assessed the prevalence of suicidality domains and determined the association of suicidality domains with sexual identity, mental health disorder symptoms, and sociodemographic characteristics. METHODS We used the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) data to perform weighted multivariable logistic regression and margins analyses to examine between and within-group differences in suicidality by sexual identity among adults aged ≥ 18 years. RESULTS About 4.89%, 1.37%, and 0.56% of the population experienced suicidal thoughts, plans, and attempts, respectively. Those aged 18-25 years old had a higher odds of suicidality compared to those aged 26 years or older. Compared to those who reported having no alcohol use dependence, illicit drug use dependence, and major depressive episodes (MDEs), those who reported alcohol use dependence, illicit drug use dependence, and MDE had higher odds of suicidal thoughts, plans, and attempts. Between all sexual identity groups, bisexuals who experienced MDEs had the highest probability of having suicidal thoughts while lesbians and gays who experienced MDE showed a higher probability of suicidal plans and attempts compared to heterosexuals. Within each sexual identity group, the probability of having suicidal thoughts, suicidal plans, and suicidal attempts was higher for those who had experienced MDEs compared to those who had not experienced MDEs. CONCLUSION Substance use disorder and MDE symptoms were associated with increased suicidality, especially among young adults and sexual minority people. This disparity underscores the need for tailored interventions and policies to enhance the provision of prompt mental health screening, diagnosis, and linkage to care for mental health services, particularly among the most vulnerable in the population.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Adzrago
- Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Ikponmwosa Osaghae
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics & Environmental Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Nnenna Ananaba
- Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Sylvia Ayieko
- Center for Health Promotion and Prevention Research, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Pierre Fwelo
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics & Environmental Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Nnabuchi Anikpezie
- Department of Population Health Science, The University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
| | - Donna Cherry
- Department of Social Work, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee, USA
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