Multiple Paths to Recovery Among Patients With Co-Occurring Alcohol Use and Mental Health Disorders

A study has revealed diverse routes to recovery among people with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders admitted for psychiatric inpatient care, while highlighting that some patients need additional support. Problem drinkers who also have a psychiatric condition — such as major depressive disorder (MDD) — often struggle to sustain long-term recovery following treatment. Mutual health groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) can provide an ongoing source of recovery support for alcohol misuse, and involvement with AA is also linked to improvement in depression. However, it was not known how depression and involvement influence drinking during and after inpatient psychiatric treatment, and how they predict recovery. The new study, reported in Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, investigated long-term trajectories of alcohol use, depression, and AA involvement over time among patients with co-occurring diagnoses.

Reducing Drinking Among US Veterans with Unhealthy Alcohol Use Might Improve Chronic Pain Symptoms and Reduce Other Substance Use

US veterans with unhealthy alcohol use who reduce their drinking may gain some improvement in chronic pain symptoms and use of other substances, according to a study in Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. Hazardous drinking is common in the US, and frequently co-occurs with chronic pain, depression and anxiety, and with tobacco, cannabis or cocaine use. Many people use alcohol and other substances to mask or self-manage pain and psychiatric symptoms, although there is little evidence to support such use. If, conversely, a reduction in drinking (or use of treatment for alcohol misuse) were to benefit co-occurring conditions or substance use, this could support an integrated approach to screening or treatment. The new analysis assessed the impact of drinking reduction on improvement of chronic pain, psychiatric symptoms, and other substance use among US veterans with unhealthy alcohol use – a population with high rates of these co-occurring conditions.

UCI is ranked among nation’s top 10 public universities for sixth year in a row

Irvine, Calif., Sept. 14, 2020 — The University of California, Irvine has been ranked eighth among the nation’s public universities in U.S. News & World Report’s 2021 list of “Best Colleges,” released today. This is the sixth consecutive year in which UCI has placed in the top 10. UCI placed 35th among all American universities – public and private – and rose to second in the subcategory of social mobility, which takes into account the graduation rate of students awarded Pell Grants.

Physician Anesthesiologists Urge VA to Reverse Directive Jeopardizing Veterans’ Lives

The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) urges Americans to protect our nation’s Veterans by asking the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to reverse
its memorandum that dismantles the successful anesthesia care team, removes physician anesthesiologists from surgery and replaces them with nurses, lowering the standard of care for Veterans and jeopardizing their lives.

Veterans with Traumatic Brain Injury Have Higher Sugar Levels in Brain

Article title: Increased myoinositol in the anterior cingulate cortex of veterans with a history of traumatic brain injury: a proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study Authors: Chandni Sheth, Andrew P. Prescot, Margaret Legarreta, Perry F. Renshaw, Erin McGlade, Deborah Yurgelun-Todd From the…

STRICT ADHERENCE TO TRADITIONAL MASCULINITY ASSOCIATED WITH MORE SEVERE PTSD IN VETS

To help service members perform better in the field, military training emphasizes the importance of certain traits associated with traditional masculinity, including suppression of emotion and self-reliance. But when veterans return home, strict adherence to these traits can become detrimental, leading to more severe post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and making it more difficult to treat, according to research published by the American Psychological Association.

The Holidays Are Here…Helpful Tips to Manage the Stress

There is a lot of activity during the holiday season, and while these can be fun and joyous occasions, some may be struggling with mental health challenges and other life stressors, which can be triggered by the holiday season. This is particularly true for many active military, veterans and their family and friends. Cohen Military Family Center at NYU Langone Health offers some advice below on how to get through the holidays.

Harper Family Foundation Gives $10 Million to Chicago Booth to Increase Scholarship Funding for Veterans

In an effort to support the growing number of veterans attending the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, the Harper Family Foundation has made a $10 million gift to provide scholarship assistance to current and former members of the U.S. Armed Forces enrolled in Booth’s Full-Time, Evening, Weekend and Executive MBA Programs.

Baylor Scott & White Health Named Top 10 Military Friendly® Employer in the US

Baylor Scott & White Health is proud to have been nationally ranked among the “Top 10” on VIQTORY’s 2020 list of Military Friendly® Employers in the category for Government/Non-Profit organizations. Baylor Scott & White, ranked #7, was recognized for exceeding benchmark standards for Military Friendly® designation within six broad categories that address recruiting, hiring, retention, advancement, support and policy compliance.

Adding mental health specialists to primary care clinics boosts vets’ access to outpatient services

A Veterans Health Administration program that added mental health specialists, care managers or both in primary care clinics significantly improved access to mental health and primary care services to veterans with behavioral health needs. The practice also resulted in 9% higher average annual costs for each patient.

Beth King

FAU Receives $1.5 Million to Train Veteran Nursing Students to Care for Other Veterans

Project Funded by HRSA will Serve Veterans in Rural, Underserved Communities Florida is home to approximately 1.5 million military veterans and has the third largest veteran population in the United States. Now, veterans will care for other veterans with a…