1Axium Veteran’s Research
Veterans research focuses on addressing the unique health needs of Veterans through diverse studies, from basic and clinical research to implementation science and targeted projects. Key research areas include mental health, traumatic brain injury (TBI), polytrauma, chronic diseases, and pain management, with a goal of improving healthcare access and treatments for Veterans through clinical trials and implementation strategies. The program also emphasizes community engagement, with Veterans actively volunteering in research to benefit fellow service members and advance healthcare.
PTSD Treatment Effectiveness
PTSD treatment is effective, with therapies like Prolonged Exposure (PE) and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) leading to a high rate of symptom reduction and remission for many patients, particularly those who complete treatment. Medications, specifically SSRIs and SNRIs, also help manage symptoms by adjusting brain chemicals, but therapies are generally more effective at achieving remission. Even without professional treatment, some people with PTSD recover over time with support from loved ones.
Suicide Prevention Modeling
Various suicide prevention modeling approaches exist, ranging from conceptual frameworks for clinical care to mathematical and AI-based models for population-level strategy. These models help healthcare systems, public health officials, and clinicians understand risk factors, allocate resources, and evaluate intervention effectiveness.
Clinical and healthcare system models: Zero Suicide (ZS), Assess, Intervene, Monitor (AIM), Collaborative Assessment and Management of Suicidality (CAMS), QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer), Agent-based models (ABMs), Narrative Crisis Model of Suicide (NCM) and Interpersonal Theory of Suicide (ITS)
VA/TRICARE Program Evaluation
VA/TRICARE program evaluation focuses on assessing the TRICARE program’s effectiveness, costs, and quality of care for its beneficiaries, with annual reports issued by the Defense Health Agency (DHA). VA health facilities participate as TRICARE network providers, offering care to service members and retirees on a space-available basis. Evaluation objectives include examining beneficiary trends, comparing costs and outcomes to civilian benchmarks, and gauging beneficiary satisfaction to ensure the Military Health System’s goals of readiness and quality care are met.
