Clinical assessment and treatment research on posttraumatic stress, alcohol use problems, and functioning in war veterans Eric Meyer, PhD

Project SERVE: Scientific objective Identify modifiable factors that influence long- term patterns and trajectories of mental health challenges and functioning in Iraq/Afghanistan veterans to inform treatment.

Who are the veterans we’re studying? Over 600 Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans enrolled at Central Texas VA 30% female 37 years old on average Predominantly Army Over-sample for mental health challenges (about half) Little less than half experienced a TBI (mostly mild)

What information do we collect? Intensive set of interviews and questionnaires Follow-up questionnaires by mail/phone Final follow-up assessment High retention rates (~ 90%) Biological samples (saliva and blood; optional)

Contributions Referred/reconnected about 130 veterans with needed mental health services 23 scientific publications & 50 conference presentations Contributed to training nearly 20 psychologists and many undergraduate psychology students

Mindfulness

Self-compassion m/watch?v=VgJbYzI2Sjk

ACT for Co-occurring PTSD & Alcohol Use Disorders in Veterans Rationale High co-morbidity of PTSD/Alcohol Target avoidance in both disorders ACT Treatment Targets Mindfulness Acceptance of difficult emotions Self-compassion Personal values Committed Action Through the use of Behavioral Interventions Research Objective Pilot treatment outcome study with 30 veterans Treatment Outcomes ↓ PTSD ↓ Alcohol use ↓ Depression ↑ Functioning (work, family, social) ↑ Quality of life

There’s an app…

Thank you Veteran participants Collaborators Sonja Batten, PhD Bryann DeBeer, PhD Tim Elliott, PhD Suzy Bird Gulliver, PhD Barbara Hermann, PhD Nathan Kimbrel, PhD Marc Kruse, PhD Oi-Man Kwok, PhD Brian Marx, PhD Sandra Morissette, PhD Amee Patel, PhD Walter Penk, PhD Paula Schnurr, PhD Jeremy Schumm, PhD Robyn Walser, PhD Keith Young, PhD Funding VA Rehabilitation Research and Development Service VISN 17 Center of Excellence for Research on Returning War Veterans National Center for PTSD Staff and trainees Michelle Acas, BA Jenny Bivona, PhD Ellis Blackmore, BA Elaine Brown, MA Bobbi Chrestman, MA Samantha Collum, BA Katherine Dahm, PhD Lianna Evans, PsyD Yolanda Evans, MA Christina Fay, MA Brad Gary, BA David Greenawalt, PhD Justine Grosso, BA Zachary Harned, BA Marie Hines, MA Regina Hiraoka, PhD Contact: Julie Kittel, MA Heidi La Bash, PhD Crystal Marchese, MA Sean McNamara, BA Corina Mendoza, MA Terri Motraghi, MS Bob O’Brien, PsyD Derek Ramsey, BA Ericka Saenz, MA David Scheinfeld, PhD Rick Seim, PhD Laurie Steffen, BA Jennifer Thompson, MA Desiree Welch, BA Matthew Woodward, BA