Using electronic health records to improve treatment decisions for preventing suicide-related behaviors
Leveraging EHR data to evaluate key treatment decisions to prevent suicide-related behaviors
This study is looking at health records from veterans to help doctors make better treatment choices for people with mental health issues, especially when deciding how to treat common problems or whether someone who has tried to harm themselves should be hospitalized, all with the goal of finding ways to lower the risk of suicide in the future.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard Medical School NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10516042 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research aims to utilize electronic health record (EHR) data from the Veterans Health Administration to develop Personalized Treatment Rules (PTRs) that assist clinicians in making informed treatment decisions for patients with mental health disorders. The study focuses on two critical decisions: how primary care physicians treat patients with common mental disorders and whether to hospitalize patients who have attempted suicide. By analyzing data from past patient visits, the research seeks to identify effective treatment strategies that can reduce the risk of suicide-related behaviors over the following year.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research include individuals receiving outpatient care for common mental disorders, particularly those who have recently sought help from primary care physicians or have a history of suicide attempts.
Not a fit: Patients with severe mental health conditions requiring immediate hospitalization or those not engaged in outpatient care may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more effective treatment plans that significantly reduce the incidence of suicide-related behaviors among patients with mental health issues.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promise in using EHR data to inform treatment decisions, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights for preventing suicide-related behaviors.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Harvard Medical School — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kessler, Ronald C — Harvard Medical School
- Study coordinator: Kessler, Ronald C
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.