eHealth program to help Veterans start and stay on depression treatment
An eHealth intervention to increase depression treatment initiation and adherence among Veterans referred for mental health services
This eHealth program uses online and phone mood tracking plus personalized outreach to help Veterans referred for mental health care begin and stick with depression treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | James a. Haley VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tampa, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11424321 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would use a phone or web tool to report your mood and symptoms and receive tailored messages or reminders. Researchers build predictive models from VA health records and your self-reports to identify who might stop engaging in care. When the system flags risk, it triggers extra outreach to help you connect with providers, keep appointments, or continue medications. The work focuses on Veterans, especially post-9/11 (OEF/OIF) Veterans, who are at higher risk for untreated depression and suicide.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Veterans referred for mental health services with symptoms of depression, particularly OEF/OIF (post-9/11) Veterans, are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Those who are already actively engaged in care, who cannot or will not use phone or internet tools, or who do not receive care through the VA may not benefit from this program.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could make it easier for Veterans to start treatment, stay engaged, and reduce depression symptoms and suicide risk.
How similar studies have performed: Other eHealth and mood-tracking programs have shown promise for improving engagement and symptoms, but combining predictive analytics with targeted outreach for Veterans is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
Tampa, United States
- James a. Haley VA Medical Center — Tampa, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Panaite, Vanessa — James a. Haley VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Panaite, Vanessa
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.