2022
Evaluation of Antipsychotic Reduction Efforts in Patients With Dementia in Veterans Health Administration Nursing Homes
Gerlach LB, Maust DT, Kales HC, Chang M, Kim HM, Wiechers IR, Zivin K. Evaluation of Antipsychotic Reduction Efforts in Patients With Dementia in Veterans Health Administration Nursing Homes. American Journal Of Psychiatry 2022, 179: 544-552. PMID: 35615813, PMCID: PMC9349465, DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.21060591.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsVeterans Health AdministrationCNS-active medicationsVHA Nursing HomesNursing homesAnxiolytic prescribingOverall prescribingVeterans Health Administration nursing homesNursing home patientsNursing home residentsInterrupted time series designAntipsychotic reductionQuarterly prevalenceMedication classesOpioid medicationsAntidepressant prescribingAntipsychotic useMedication prescribingHome patientsPsychotropic medicationsLabel useHome residentsSimilar riskMedicationsPrescribingHealth Administration
2021
Impact of an interdisciplinary intervention for distress behaviors in dementia on psychotropic drug use in Veterans Health Administration Community Living Centers STAR-VA impact on psychotropic drug utilization
McConeghy KW, Curyto K, Jedele J, Intrator O, Mohr DC, Wiechers IR, Karel MJ. Impact of an interdisciplinary intervention for distress behaviors in dementia on psychotropic drug use in Veterans Health Administration Community Living Centers STAR-VA impact on psychotropic drug utilization. Geriatric Nursing 2021, 42: 1533-1540. PMID: 34739929, DOI: 10.1016/j.gerinurse.2021.10.009.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsPsychotropic drug useDrug useVeterans Health Administration nursing homesPsychotropic medication usePsychotropic drug utilizationDistress behaviorsSTAR-VAMedication usePsychotropic useDrug utilizationCohort analysisNursing homesInterdisciplinary interventionEligible residentsStudy designTreatment effectsDementiaImportant optionResidentsBehavioral approachCasesAverage reductionDosesMonths
2015
Growing Use of Mental and General Health Care Services Among Older Veterans With Mental Illness
Wiechers IR, Karel MJ, Hoff R, Karlin BE. Growing Use of Mental and General Health Care Services Among Older Veterans With Mental Illness. Psychiatric Services 2015, 66: 1242-1244. PMID: 26278225, DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.201400370.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHealth care servicesOlder veteransElectronic medical recordsMental illnessCare servicesMedical recordsVeterans Health Administration electronic medical recordsVHA electronic medical recordsGeneral health care servicesVeterans ages 65Health service utilizationMental health needsService utilizationService useHealth needsAge 65IllnessVeteransNational dataProportionPrevalence and correlates of co-prescribing psychotropic medications with long-term opioid use nationally in the Veterans Health Administration
Barry DT, Sofuoglu M, Kerns RD, Wiechers IR, Rosenheck RA. Prevalence and correlates of co-prescribing psychotropic medications with long-term opioid use nationally in the Veterans Health Administration. Psychiatry Research 2015, 227: 324-332. PMID: 25863822, DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2015.03.006.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH KeywordsAdultAnti-Anxiety AgentsAntidepressive AgentsDrug PrescriptionsFemaleHumansHypnotics and SedativesMaleMental DisordersOpioid-Related DisordersPrevalencePsychotropic DrugsSleep Initiation and Maintenance DisordersUnited StatesUnited States Department of Veterans AffairsVeteransVeterans HealthConceptsMental health clinicsPsychotropic medicationsOpioid prescriptionsHealth clinicsMedical indicationsAnxiolytics/sedatives/hypnoticsLong-term opioid useSpecialty mental health clinicsService use correlatesRelated adverse eventsSedative/hypnoticsVeterans Health AdministrationMental health treatmentAdverse eventsOpioid useHarmful side effectsFiscal year 2012More psychotropicsSide effectsPsychiatric diagnosisHealth treatmentMedicationsHealth AdministrationPsychotropicsAnxiety disorders