Timothy Schmutte, PsyD

I am a clinical psychologist and mental health services researcher with a longstanding interest in older adults and suicide prevention. My current research seeks to improve the quality of care for persons with serious mental illness and the aging population with a focus on suicide prevention. I am conducting a NIMH-funded study using Medicare data to examine the service use patterns, predictors, and outcomes of older adults treated for acute suicide risk in hospitals. I am also co-leading a NIA-funded analysis of Medicare claims to conduct the first US cohort study on the risk and protective factors for all-cause mortality, suicide, and self-harm during the early course of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. I am also a Co-Investigator on a project that is developing and pilot testing a peer-based intervention for Veterans with high suicide risk.

Some of my prior mental health services use research has focused on frequent psychiatric inpatient use and perceived barriers to healthcare among adults with serious mental illness. I have also published in the area of the interface between recovery, evidence-based practice, and wellness with a focus on sleep quality and active self-management programs for chronic illnesses.