How Veterans move from a positive PTSD screen to VA mental health care
Official title: Understanding Pathways to Care for Veterans who Screen Positive for PTSD: The PTSD Access To Healthcare (PATH) Study
Funded at VA Boston Health Care System · NIH-11515706 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at the steps Veterans take after a positive PTSD screen to see how they get connected to VA mental health services.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA Boston Health Care System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | October 1, 2021 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5I01HX003297-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11515706 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Veterans who recently screened positive for PTSD during a VA primary care visit and receive or are eligible for VA services are the primary candidates for this work.
✕Less likely to help
Veterans who do not use VA health services, who were never screened in VA primary care, or who are already engaged in specialty PTSD treatment may not directly benefit from this project.
What this research studies
Researchers will follow Veterans who screen positive for PTSD in VA primary care to map the sequence of options offered and choices Veterans make after a positive screen. They will examine VA medical records and follow-up data alongside clinic- and community-level information to identify where Veterans stop receiving care. The team will analyze individual and contextual factors that predict who connects to VA mental health services and who is lost along the way. Findings will be turned into practical guidance for targeting access interventions and a method for classifying screening-to-care pathways that could be applied to other conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help more Veterans get timely VA mental health care by showing where to target outreach and system changes after a positive PTSD screen.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has documented gaps between PTSD screening and treatment, but detailed pathway mapping to pinpoint when and why Veterans are lost is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
-
VA Boston Health Care System
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bovin, Michelle — VA Boston Health Care System
- Study coordinator: Bovin, Michelle
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding how PTSD affects self-control and brain function
Researchers are studying how PTSD changes the brain’s control over thoughts and actions, and how this might affect Veterans’ daily lives and responses to treatment.
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Ketamine to boost fear extinction and memory on PTSD patients
A study testing whether ketamine can help people with PTSD better relearn and forget fear when given in a guided treatment plan.
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Treating PTSD and opioid use disorder in residential care with Written Exposure Therapy (WEST)
A short, patient-friendly plan to adapt a proven PTSD therapy for people with opioid use disorder in residential treatment and test its practicality and impact.
-
Dynamic PTSD-Related Cognitive Risk in Aging WTC Responders
This project follows World Trade Center responders as they age to understand how PTSD symptoms relate to changes in thinking skills over time.
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Identifying brain proteins linked to PTSD and alcohol use disorder
Researchers are studying brain proteins that may contribute to PTSD and alcohol use disorder in US veterans to find new ways to help people who struggle with both conditions.
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Transdiagnostic Behavior Therapy for Veterans with Social Anxiety and PTSD Symptoms
A clinical trial tests whether a flexible brain-behavior therapy helps veterans with social anxiety and PTSD symptoms feel better and engage more in daily life.
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.