Predicting homelessness among transitioning US Army soldiers
American Journal of Preventive Medicine
Published On 2024/2/3
IntroductionThis study develops a practical method to triage Army transitioning service members (TSMs) at highest risk of homelessness to target a preventive intervention.MethodsThe sample included 4,790 soldiers from the Study to Assess Risk and Resilience in Servicemembers-Longitudinal Study (STARRS-LS) who participated in one of three Army STARRS 2011-2014 baseline surveys followed by the third wave of the STARRS-LS online panel surveys (2020-2022). Two machine learning models were trained: a Stage-1 model that used administrative predictors and geospatial data available for all TSMs at discharge to identify high-risk TSMs for initial outreach; and a Stage-2 model estimated in the high-risk subsample that used self-reported survey data to help determine highest risk based on additional information collected from high-risk TSMs once they are contacted. The outcome in both models was …
Journal
American Journal of Preventive Medicine
Published On
2024/2/3
Authors
Ronald C Kessler
Harvard University
Position
McNeil Family Professor of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School
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334
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Research Interests
Psychiatric Epidemiology
University Profile Page
Murray B. Stein
University of California, San Diego
Position
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Research Interests
Anxiety
stress
trauma
genetics
suicide
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Ann Elizabeth Montgomery
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Position
School of Public Health
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31
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29
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0
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0
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0
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0
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Research Interests
Homelessness
Veterans
Housing
Health Disparities
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Alex Luedtke
University of Washington
Position
Department of Statistics
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25
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24
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0
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0
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0
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University Profile Page
Chris J. Kennedy
Harvard University
Position
Postdoc in biomedical informatics, Harvard Medical School
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14
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14
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0
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0
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0
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0
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Research Interests
computational psychiatry
causal inference
targeted learning
deep learning
item response theory
University Profile Page
Other Articles from authors
Ronald C Kessler
Harvard University
Molecular psychiatry
The epidemiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: Data from the Saudi National Mental Health Survey
Despite significant advances in the study of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), important questions remain about the disorder's public health significance, appropriate diagnostic classification, and clinical heterogeneity. These issues were explored using data from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication, a nationally representative survey of US adults. A subsample of 2073 respondents was assessed for lifetime Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edn (DSM-IV) OCD. More than one quarter of respondents reported experiencing obsessions or compulsions at some time in their lives. While conditional probability of OCD was strongly associated with the number of obsessions and compulsions reported, only small proportions of respondents met full DSM-IV criteria for lifetime (2.3%) or 12-month (1.2%) OCD. OCD is associated with substantial comorbidity, not only with anxiety and mood …
2010/1
Article DetailsMurray B. Stein
University of California, San Diego
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
The relationship between expressive suppression, therapeutic bond, and treatment outcomes of a positive affect intervention for adults with anxiety and/or depression
Expressive suppression (ES; reducing emotional expression) is linked with reduced social connectedness in individuals with anxiety or depression. One implication is that people who use ES may have difficulty establishing a bond with their therapist which may impede clinical improvement. We examined this hypothesis in 33 adults with clinically elevated anxiety or depression receiving treatment focused on enhancing positive thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. At baseline, participants rated ES for positive and negative emotions during a standardized conversation task designed to generate connectedness. They also rated measures of early (session 3) perceived therapeutic bond and treatment outcomes (i.e. positive affect and social connectedness). ES of positive (r = -.39, p = .018), but not negative (r = .06, p = .747), emotions was negatively associated with therapeutic bond. Therapeutic bond …
2024/3/15
Article DetailsMurray B. Stein
University of California, San Diego
Psychiatry Research
Genetic contribution to the comorbidity between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and substance use disorders
We characterized the genetic architecture of the attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder-substance use disorder (ADHD-SUD) relationship by investigating genetic correlation, causality, pleiotropy, and common polygenic risk. Summary statistics from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were used to investigate ADHD (Neff=51,568), cannabis use disorder (CanUD, Neff=161,053), opioid use disorder (OUD, Neff=57,120), problematic alcohol use (PAU, Neff=502,272), and problematic tobacco use (PTU, Neff=97,836). ADHD, CanUD, and OUD GWAS meta-analyses included cohorts with case definitions based on different diagnostic criteria. PAU GWAS combined information related to alcohol use disorder, alcohol dependence, and the items related to alcohol problematic consequences assessed by the alcohol use disorders identification test. PTU GWAS was generated a multi-trait analysis including information …
2024/2/3
Article DetailsMurray B. Stein
University of California, San Diego
Biological Psychiatry
Amplification of positivity treatment for anxiety and depression: a randomized experimental therapeutics trial targeting social reward sensitivity to enhance social connectedness
BackgroundSocial disconnection is common and causes significant impairment in anxiety and depressive disorders, and it does not respond sufficiently to available treatments. The positive valence system supports social bond formation and maintenance but is often hyporesponsive in people with anxiety or depression. We conducted an experimental therapeutics trial to test the hypothesis that targeting positive valence processes through cognitive and behavioral strategies would enhance responsivity to social rewards, a core mechanism underlying social connectedness.MethodsSixty-eight adults who endorsed clinically elevated anxiety and/or depression with social impairment were randomized 1:1:1 to 5 (n = 23) or 10 (n = 22) sessions of amplification of positivity (AMP) treatment or waitlist (n = 23). Pre- to posttreatment change in striatal activity (primary outcome) during social reward anticipation was measured …
2023/8/20
Article DetailsMurray B. Stein
University of California, San Diego
Nature Genetics
Genome-wide association analyses identify 95 risk loci and provide insights into the neurobiology of post-traumatic stress disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) genetics are characterized by lower discoverability than most other psychiatric disorders. The contribution to biological understanding from previous genetic studies has thus been limited. We performed a multi-ancestry meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies across 1,222,882 individuals of European ancestry (137,136 cases) and 58,051 admixed individuals with African and Native American ancestry (13,624 cases). We identified 95 genome-wide significant loci (80 new). Convergent multi-omic approaches identified 43 potential causal genes, broadly classified as neurotransmitter and ion channel synaptic modulators (for example, GRIA1, GRM8 and CACNA1E), developmental, axon guidance and transcription factors (for example, FOXP2, EFNA5 and DCC), synaptic structure and function genes (for example, PCLO, NCAM1 and PDE4B) and endocrine or immune …
2024/4/18
Article DetailsChris J. Kennedy
Harvard University
Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine
Toward personalized care for insomnia in the US Army: a machine learning model to predict response to cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia
Study Objectives The standard of care for military personnel with insomnia is cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I). However, only a minority seeking insomnia treatment receive CBT-I, and little reliable guidance exists to identify those most likely to respond. As a step toward personalized care, we present results of a machine learning (ML) model to predict CBT-I response. Methods Administrative data were examined for n=1,449 nondeployed US Army soldiers treated for insomnia with CBT-I who had moderate-severe baseline Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) scores and completed one or more follow-up ISIs 6-12 weeks after baseline. An ensemble ML model was developed in a 70% training sample to predict clinically significant ISI improvement (reduction of at least two standard deviations on the baseline ISI distribution). Predictors included a wide range of military administrative and baseline clinical …
2024/2/1
Article DetailsRonald C Kessler
Harvard University
Addiction
Community exposure to armed conflict and subsequent onset of alcohol use disorder
Aims To measure the independent consequences of community‐level armed conflict beatings on alcohol use disorders (AUD) among males in Nepal during and after the 2000–2006 conflict. Design A population‐representative panel study from Nepal, with precise measures of community‐level violent events and subsequent individual‐level AUD in males. Females were not included because of low AUD prevalence. Setting Chitwan, Nepal. Participants Four thousand eight hundred seventy‐six males from 151 neighborhoods, systematically selected and representative of Western Chitwan. All residents aged 15–59 were eligible (response rate 93%). Measurements Measures of beatings in the community during the conflict (2000–2006), including the date and distance away, were gathered through neighborhood reports, geo‐location and official resources, then linked to respondents' life histories of AUD …
2024/2
Article DetailsRonald C Kessler
Harvard University
Psychological medicine
Associations of alcohol and cannabis use with change in posttraumatic stress disorder and depression symptoms over time in recently trauma-exposed individuals
BackgroundSeveral hypotheses may explain the association between substance use, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and depression. However, few studies have utilized a large multisite dataset to understand this complex relationship. Our study assessed the relationship between alcohol and cannabis use trajectories and PTSD and depression symptoms across 3 months in recently trauma-exposed civilians.MethodsIn total, 1618 (1037 female) participants provided self-report data on past 30-day alcohol and cannabis use and PTSD and depression symptoms during their emergency department (baseline) visit. We reassessed participant's substance use and clinical symptoms 2, 8, and 12 weeks posttrauma. Latent class mixture modeling determined alcohol and cannabis use trajectories in the sample. Changes in PTSD and depression symptoms were assessed across alcohol and cannabis use trajectories …
2024/1
Article DetailsMurray B. Stein
University of California, San Diego
Nature Genetics
Multi-ancestry genome-wide association study of major depression aids locus discovery, fine mapping, gene prioritization and causal inference
Most genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of major depression (MD) have been conducted in samples of European ancestry. Here we report a multi-ancestry GWAS of MD, adding data from 21 cohorts with 88,316 MD cases and 902,757 controls to previously reported data. This analysis used a range of measures to define MD and included samples of African (36% of effective sample size), East Asian (26%) and South Asian (6%) ancestry and Hispanic/Latin American participants (32%). The multi-ancestry GWAS identified 53 significantly associated novel loci. For loci from GWAS in European ancestry samples, fewer than expected were transferable to other ancestry groups. Fine mapping benefited from additional sample diversity. A transcriptome-wide association study identified 205 significantly associated novel genes. These findings suggest that, for MD, increasing ancestral and global diversity in genetic …
2024/1/4
Article DetailsAlex Luedtke
University of Washington
arXiv preprint arXiv:2402.01972
Combining T-learning and DR-learning: a framework for oracle-efficient estimation of causal contrasts
We introduce efficient plug-in (EP) learning, a novel framework for the estimation of heterogeneous causal contrasts, such as the conditional average treatment effect and conditional relative risk. The EP-learning framework enjoys the same oracle-efficiency as Neyman-orthogonal learning strategies, such as DR-learning and R-learning, while addressing some of their primary drawbacks, including that (i) their practical applicability can be hindered by loss function non-convexity; and (ii) they may suffer from poor performance and instability due to inverse probability weighting and pseudo-outcomes that violate bounds. To avoid these drawbacks, EP-learner constructs an efficient plug-in estimator of the population risk function for the causal contrast, thereby inheriting the stability and robustness properties of plug-in estimation strategies like T-learning. Under reasonable conditions, EP-learners based on empirical risk minimization are oracle-efficient, exhibiting asymptotic equivalence to the minimizer of an oracle-efficient one-step debiased estimator of the population risk function. In simulation experiments, we illustrate that EP-learners of the conditional average treatment effect and conditional relative risk outperform state-of-the-art competitors, including T-learner, R-learner, and DR-learner. Open-source implementations of the proposed methods are available in our R package hte3.
2024/2/3
Article DetailsRonald C Kessler
Harvard University
Journal of affective disorders
Suicidal ideation risk among LGB Spanish university students: the role of childhood and adolescence adversities and mental disorders
BackgroundChildhood/adolescence adversities and mental disorders are higher among LGB youths.AimsTo evaluate the role of childhood maltreatment, bullying, and mental disorders on the association between sexual orientation and suicidal ideation (SI); and the role of mental disorders on the association between sexual orientation discrimination and SI.MethodsBaseline and 12-month follow-up online surveys of Spanish first-year university students (18–24-year-olds). Multivariable logistic regression models assessed the effects of childhood/adolescence adversities and mental disorders in the relationship between sexual orientation, discrimination and SI.ResultsA total of 1224 students were included (16.4 % LGBs). Risk factors of lifetime SI were sexual orientation (OR 2.4), any bullying (OR 2.4), any childhood maltreatment (OR 4.0), and any mental disorders (OR 3.8). Final model Area Under the Curve (AUC …
2024/5/15
Article DetailsRonald C Kessler
Harvard University
International Journal of Mental Health Systems
Factors associated with satisfaction and perceived helpfulness of mental healthcare: a World Mental Health Surveys report
BackgroundMental health service providers are increasingly interested in patient perspectives. We examined rates and predictors of patient-reported satisfaction and perceived helpfulness in a cross-national general population survey of adults with 12-month DSM-IV disorders who saw a provider for help with their mental health.MethodsData were obtained from epidemiological surveys in the World Mental Health Survey Initiative. Respondents were asked about satisfaction with treatments received from up to 11 different types of providers (very satisfied, satisfied, neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, somewhat dissatisfied, very dissatisfied) and helpfulness of the provider (a lot, some, a little, not at all). We modelled predictors of satisfaction and helpfulness using a dataset of patient-provider observations (n = 5,248).ResultsMost treatment was provided by general medical providers (37.4%), psychiatrists (18.4%) and …
2024/3/1
Article DetailsRonald C Kessler
Harvard University
Psychological medicine
Development and evaluation of a predictive algorithm and telehealth intervention to reduce suicidal behavior among university students
BackgroundSuicidal behaviors are prevalent among college students; however, students remain reluctant to seek support. We developed a predictive algorithm to identify students at risk of suicidal behavior and used telehealth to reduce subsequent risk.MethodsData come from several waves of a prospective cohort study (2016–2022) of college students (n = 5454). All first-year students were invited to participate as volunteers. (Response rates range: 16.00–19.93%). A stepped-care approach was implemented: (i) all students received a comprehensive list of services; (ii) those reporting past 12-month suicidal ideation were directed to a safety planning application; (iii) those identified as high risk of suicidal behavior by the algorithm or reporting 12-month suicide attempt were contacted via telephone within 24-h of survey completion. Intervention focused on support/safety-planning, and referral to services for this …
2024/4
Article DetailsMurray B. Stein
University of California, San Diego
Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine
Toward personalized care for insomnia in the US Army: a machine learning model to predict response to cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia
Study Objectives The standard of care for military personnel with insomnia is cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I). However, only a minority seeking insomnia treatment receive CBT-I, and little reliable guidance exists to identify those most likely to respond. As a step toward personalized care, we present results of a machine learning (ML) model to predict CBT-I response. Methods Administrative data were examined for n=1,449 nondeployed US Army soldiers treated for insomnia with CBT-I who had moderate-severe baseline Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) scores and completed one or more follow-up ISIs 6-12 weeks after baseline. An ensemble ML model was developed in a 70% training sample to predict clinically significant ISI improvement (reduction of at least two standard deviations on the baseline ISI distribution). Predictors included a wide range of military administrative and baseline clinical …
2024/2/1
Article DetailsMurray B. Stein
University of California, San Diego
Vulnerabilities in social anxiety: Integrating intra-and interpersonal perspectives
What are the major vulnerabilities in people with social anxiety? What are the most promising directions for translational research pertaining to this condition? The present paper provides an integrative summary of basic and applied translational research on social anxiety, emphasizing vulnerability factors. It is divided into two subsections: intrapersonal and interpersonal. The intrapersonal section synthesizes research relating to (a) self-representations and self-referential processes; (b) emotions and their regulation; and (c) cognitive biases: attention, interpretation and judgment, and memory. The interpersonal section summarizes findings regarding the systems of (a) approach and avoidance, (b) affiliation and social rank, and their implications for interpersonal impairments. Our review suggests that the science of social anxiety and, more generally, psychopathology may be advanced by examining processes and …
2024/3/11
Article DetailsMurray B. Stein
University of California, San Diego
Nature Communications
Whole-exome sequencing in UK Biobank reveals rare genetic architecture for depression
Nearly two hundred common-variant depression risk loci have been identified by genome-wide association studies (GWAS). However, the impact of rare coding variants on depression remains poorly understood. Here, we present whole-exome sequencing analyses of depression with seven different definitions based on survey, questionnaire, and electronic health records in 320,356 UK Biobank participants. We showed that the burden of rare damaging coding variants in loss-of-function intolerant genes is significantly associated with risk of depression with various definitions. We compared the rare and common genetic architecture across depression definitions by genetic correlation and showed different genetic relationships between definitions across common and rare variants. In addition, we demonstrated that the effects of rare damaging coding variant burden and polygenic risk score on depression risk are …
2024/2/26
Article DetailsChris J. Kennedy
Harvard University
JAMA psychiatry
Estimated average treatment effect of psychiatric hospitalization in patients with suicidal behaviors: a precision treatment analysis
ImportancePsychiatric hospitalization is the standard of care for patients presenting to an emergency department (ED) or urgent care (UC) with high suicide risk. However, the effect of hospitalization in reducing subsequent suicidal behaviors is poorly understood and likely heterogeneous.ObjectivesTo estimate the association of psychiatric hospitalization with subsequent suicidal behaviors using observational data and develop a preliminary predictive analytics individualized treatment rule accounting for heterogeneity in this association across patients.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsA machine learning analysis of retrospective data was conducted. All veterans presenting with suicidal ideation (SI) or suicide attempt (SA) from January 1, 2010, to December 31, 2015, were included. Data were analyzed from September 1, 2022, to March 10, 2023. Subgroups were defined by primary psychiatric diagnosis …
2024/2/1
Article DetailsMurray B. Stein
University of California, San Diego
Biological Psychiatry
Brainwide mendelian randomization study of anxiety disorders and symptoms
BackgroundTo gain insights into the role of brain structure and function on anxiety (ANX), we conducted a genetically informed investigation leveraging information from ANX genome-wide association studies available from the UK Biobank (n = 380,379), the FinnGen Program (n = 290,361), and the Million Veteran Program (n = 175,163) together with UK Biobank genome-wide data (n = 33,224) related to 3935 brain imaging–derived phenotypes (IDPs).MethodsA genetic correlation analysis between ANX and brain IDPs was performed using linkage disequilibrium score regression. To investigate ANX–brain associations, a 2-sample Mendelian randomization was performed considering multiple methods and sensitivity analyses. A subsequent multivariable Mendelian randomization was conducted to distinguish between direct and indirect effects. Finally, a generalized linear model was used to explore the …
2024/4/15
Article DetailsRonald C Kessler
Harvard University
Sociodemographic correlates of mental health treatment seeking among college students: a systematic review and meta-analysis
ObjectiveCollege students have high rates of mental health problems and low rates of treatment. Although sociodemographic disparities in student mental health treatment seeking have been reported, findings have not been synthesized and quantified. The extent to which differences in perceived need for treatment contribute to overall disparities remains unclear.MethodsA systematic search of PubMed, PsycInfo, and Embase was conducted. Studies published between 2007 and 2022 were included if they reported treatment rates among college students with mental health problems, stratified by sex, gender, race-ethnicity, sexual orientation, student type, student year, or student status. Random-effects models were used to calculate pooled prevalence ratios (PRs) of having a perceived need for treatment and of receiving treatment for each sociodemographic subgroup.ResultsTwenty-one studies qualified for …
2024/1/31
Article DetailsOther articles from American Journal of Preventive Medicine journal
Ellen P. McCarthy
Harvard University
American Journal of Preventive Medicine
COVID-19 and influenza vaccine co-administration among older US adults
IntroductionCo-administering COVID-19 and influenza vaccines is recommended by public health authorities and intended to improve uptake and convenience; however, the extent of vaccine co-administration is largely unknown. Investigations into COVID-19 and influenza vaccine co-administration are needed to describe compliance with newer recommendations and to identify potential gaps in the implementation of co-administration.MethodsA descriptive, repeated cross-sectional study between September 1, 2021 to November 30, 2021 (Period 1) and September 1, 2022 to November 30, 2022 (Period 2) was conducted. This study included community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries ≥ 66 years who received an mRNA COVID-19 booster vaccine in Periods 1 and 2. The outcome was an influenza vaccine administered on the same day as the COVID-19 vaccine. Adjusted ORs and 99% CIs were estimated using …
2024/2/23
Article DetailsErica Kenney
Harvard University
American Journal of Preventive Medicine
Philadelphia Beverage Tax's Impact on Beverage Ad Expenditures and Number of Ads Purchased
IntroductionOn January 1, 2017, Philadelphia implemented a beverage excise tax. The study's objective was to determine whether beverage advertising expenditures and the number of beverage ads purchased changed in Philadelphia compared to Baltimore because of this tax.MethodsMonthly beverage ad expenditures and the number of beverage ads purchased by brand from January 2016 through December 2019 were obtained. Ads were coded as being for taxed or not taxed beverages and analyzed in 2023. The primary outcomes were quarterly taxed beverage ad expenditures and number of ads purchased. A controlled interrupted time series design on segmented linear regression models was used. Models (aggregated and stratified by internet, spot TV, and local radio) compared whether levels and trends in the outcomes changed from pre- to post-tax in Philadelphia compared to Baltimore.Results …
2024/3/19
Article DetailsXiao-Ou Shu
Vanderbilt University
American Journal of Preventive Medicine
Impacts of poverty and lifestyles on mortality: a cohort study in predominantly low-income Americans
Introduction Low socioeconomic status has been linked to increased mortality. However, the impacts of poverty, alone or combined with health behaviors, on mortality and life expectancy have not been adequately investigated. Methods Data from the Southern Community Cohort Study was used, including nearly 86,000 participants recruited during 2002-2009 across 12 US southeastern states. Analysis was conducted from February 2022 to January 2023. Results During a median follow-up of 12.1 years, 19,749 deaths were identified. A strong dose-response relationship was found between household incomes and mortality, with a 3.3-fold (95% CI= 3.1-3.6) increased all-cause mortality observed for individuals in the lowest income group (< $15,000/year) compared with those in the highest group (≥ $50,000/year). Within each income group, mortality monotonically increased with declining healthy lifestyle score …
2024/2/27
Article DetailsTiffany Veinot, FACMI
University of Michigan-Dearborn
American journal of preventive medicine
Social acceptability of health behavior posts on social media: an experiment
IntroductionSocial media sites like Twitter (now X) are increasingly used to create health behavior metrics for public health surveillance. Yet little is known about social norms that may bias the content of posts about health behaviors. Social norms for posts about four health behaviors (smoking tobacco, drinking alcohol, physical activity, eating food) on Twitter/X were evaluated.MethodsThis was a randomized experiment delivered via web-based survey to adult, English-speaking Twitter/X users in three Michigan, USA, counties from 2020 to 2022 (n=559). Each participant viewed 24 posts presenting experimental manipulations regarding four health behaviors and answered questions about each post's social acceptability. Principal component analysis was used to combine survey responses into one perceived social acceptability measure. Linear mixed models with the Benjamini–Hochberg correction were …
2024/1/6
Article DetailsAlexander P Cole
Harvard University
American journal of preventive medicine
Racial Disparities in Prostate Cancer Screening: The Role of Shared Decision Making
IntroductionThe 2018 U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommendations endorsed shared decision making for men aged 55–69 years, encouraging consideration of patient race/ethnicity for prostate-specific antigen screening. This study aimed to assess whether a proxy shared decision-making variable modified the impact of race/ethnicity on the likelihood of prostate-specific antigen screening.MethodsA cross-sectional analysis of men aged between 55 and 69 years, who responded to the prostate-specific antigen screening portions of the 2020 U.S.-based Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey, was performed between September and December 2022. Complex sample multivariable logistic regression models with an interaction term combining race and estimated shared decision making were used to test whether shared decision making modified the impact of race/ethnicity on screening.Results …
2024/1/1
Article DetailsTracy K Richmond
Harvard University
American Journal of Preventive Medicine
Weight stigma associated with mental health concerns among college students
IntroductionWeight stigma is widespread and exists across numerous domains including health care, educational institutions, workplaces, mass media, and interpersonal relationships. Weight stigma experienced during the college years may be particularly consequential because the college years are a period of increased vulnerability for the development of mental health concerns. The purpose of the present study was to examine how experiences of weight stigma relate to mental health concerns, including symptoms of eating disorders, anxiety, and depression, among college students.MethodsPrevalence of interpersonal and anticipated weight stigma was examined among 2,707 students participating in the 2018–2019 and 2019–2020 Healthy Minds Study and tested for differences in prevalence across student characteristics. Logistic regression was used to explore relationships between measures of weight …
2024/2/1
Article DetailsThomas Eissenberg
Virginia Commonwealth University
American journal of preventive medicine
E-cigarette dependence and depressive symptoms among youth
IntroductionAlthough the relationship between smoking and depression has been well-established, little is known about the association between use of e-cigarette and depression, particularly among youth and young adults. This study proposes that e-cigarette dependence, rather than simply use, serves as a potential stressor and may interact with pre-existing vulnerabilities to contribute to depression in youth, consistent with the diathesis-stress theory. This study examines the longitudinal association of vaping dependence and vaping frequency on depression symptoms among youth and young adults who have never smoked cigarettes.MethodsPeople who used e-cigarettes in the past month who reported never smoking a cigarette (N=1,226) aged between 16 and 25 years were followed longitudinally every 3 months for up to 1 year beginning in 2020. The Penn State E-Cigarette Dependence Index at time t was …
2024/1/1
Article DetailsErin E. Dooley
University of Alabama at Birmingham
American Journal of Preventive Medicine
TV Viewing From Young Adulthood to Middle Age and Cardiovascular Disease Risk
IntroductionFew studies have longitudinally examined TV viewing trajectories and cardiovascular disease risk factors. The objective of this study was to determine the association between level and annualized changes in young adult TV viewing and the incidence of cardiovascular disease risk factors from young adulthood to middle age.MethodsIn 2023, prospective community-based cohort data of 4,318 Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study participants (1990–1991 to 2015–2016) were analyzed. Individualized daily TV viewing trajectories for each participant were developed using linear mixed models.ResultsEvery additional hour of TV viewing at age 23 years was associated with higher odds of incident hypertension (AOR=1.16; 95% CI=1.11, 1.22), diabetes (AOR=1.19; 95% CI=1.11, 1.28), high triglycerides (AOR=1.17; 95% CI=1.08, 1.26), dyslipidemia (AOR=1.10; 95% CI=1.03, 1.16), and …
2024/3/1
Article DetailsKaren Lasser
Boston University
American Journal of Preventive Medicine
Medicaid Expansion and Preventable Emergency Department Use by Race/Ethnicity
IntroductionThis study aimed to examine changes in emergency department (ED) visits for ambulatory care sensitive conditions (ACSCs) among uninsured or Medicaid-covered Black, Hispanic, and White adults aged 26-64 in the first five years of the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion.MethodsUsing 2010-2018 inpatient and ED discharge data from nine expansion and five non-expansion states, an event study difference-in-differences regression model was used to estimate changes in number of annual ACSC ED visits per 100 adults ("ACSC ED rate") associated with the 2014 Medicaid expansion, overall and by race/ethnicity. A secondary outcome was the proportion of ACSC ED visits out of all ED visits ("ACSC ED share"). Analyses were conducted in 2022-2023.ResultsMedicaid expansion was associated with no change in ACSC ED rates among all, Black, Hispanic, or White adults. When excluding …
2024/2/10
Article DetailsJuno Obedin-Maliver, MD, MPH, MAS
Stanford University
American Journal of Preventive Medicine
Culturally tailored anti-smoking messages: a randomized trial with US sexual minority young women
IntroductionThis study evaluated effects of exposure to culturally tailored anti-smoking ads versus control ads on quitting intentions, cigarette purchase intentions, and tobacco industry perceptions among young adult, cisgender and transgender, sexual minority women (SMW).Study DesignAn online randomized controlled experiment with 1-month longitudinal follow-up was conducted.Setting and ParticipantsAbout 2,214 U.S. SMW ages 18–30 were recruited via online survey panels (The PRIDE Study and Prolific), social media ads and posts, and HER dating app ads. Data were collected in 2021–2022.InterventionParticipants were randomly assigned to receive up to 20 tailored ads containing LGBTQ+ branding versus 20 control ads without LGBTQ+ branding over 4 weeks. Both conditions used identical anti-smoking statements and photographs (including several photographs of individuals who self-identified as …
2024/5/1
Article DetailsRyan J Dougherty
Johns Hopkins University
American Journal of Preventive Medicine
Physical activity intensity and risk of dementia
IntroductionRegular participation in aerobic physical activity is associated with a reduced risk of dementia. It is currently unclear whether this association is due to the total volume or intensity of physical activity.MethodsThis prospective cohort study analyzed 386,486 adults from the UK Biobank who were free of dementia and self-reported >0 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) at baseline (2007–2010). Participants were categorized as performing 0%, >0%–30%, or >30% of their total MVPA in vigorous activity (VPA). Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to examine the associations between categories of VPA and incident dementia while adjusting for sociodemographic and lifestyle factors including total MVPA. Analyses were performed in 2022.ResultsOver an average follow-up of 12.0 (1.7) years, there were 5,177 (1.3%) cases of dementia. Compared to the group …
2024/2/1
Article DetailsAlexander McCourt
Johns Hopkins University
American journal of preventive medicine
The association between state minimum wage and firearm homicides, 2000-2020
IntroductionRecent research has indicated an association between both poverty and income inequality and firearm homicides. Increased minimum wages may serve as a strategy for reducing firearm violence by increasing economic security among workers earning low wages and reducing the number of families living in poverty. This study aimed to examine the association between state minimum wage and firearm homicides in the U.S. between 2000 and 2020.MethodsState minimum wage, obtained from Temple's Law Atlas and augmented by legal research, was conceptualized using the Kaitz Index. State-level homicide counts were obtained from 2000 to 2020 multiple-cause-of death mortality data from the National Vital Statistics System. Log-linear regressions were conducted to model the associations between state minimum wage and firearm homicides, stratifying by demographic groups. Analyses were …
2024/2/1
Article DetailsCaitlin G. Allen
Emory & Henry College
American Journal of Preventive Medicine
Implementation Mapping for Managing Patients at High Risk for Hereditary Cancer
IntroductionCurrently, no standard workflow exists for managing patients with pathogenic variants that put them at higher risk for hereditary cancers. Therefore, follow-up care for individuals with pathogenic variants is logistically challenging and results in poor guideline adherence. To address this challenge, authors created clinical management strategies for individuals identified at high risk for hereditary cancers.MethodsAn implementation mapping approach was used to develop and evaluate the establishment of a Hereditary Cancer Clinic at the Medical University of South Carolina throughout in 2022. This approach consisted of 5 steps: conduct a needs assessment, identify objectives, select implementation strategies, produce implementation protocols, and develop an evaluation plan. The needs assessment consisted of qualitative interviews with patients (n=11), specialists (n=9), and members of the …
2024/3/1
Article DetailsDavid Ross Williams
University of Lincoln
American journal of preventive medicine
Cost effectiveness of calorie labeling at large fast-food chains across the US
Introduction Calorie labeling of standard menu items has been implemented at large restaurant chains across the US since 2018. The objective of this study was to evaluate the cost effectiveness of calorie labeling at large US fast-food chains. Methods This study evaluated the national implementation of calorie labeling at large fast-food chains from a modified societal perspective and projected its cost effectiveness over a 10-year period (2018–2027) using the Childhood Obesity Intervention Cost-Effectiveness Study microsimulation model. Using evidence from over 67 million fast-food restaurant transactions between 2015 and 2019, the impact of calorie labeling on calorie consumption and obesity incidence was projected. Benefits were estimated across all racial, ethnic, and income groups. Analyses were performed in 2022. Results Calorie labeling is estimated to be cost saving; prevent 550,000 cases of obesity …
2024/1/1
Article DetailsKiersten Strombotne
Boston University
American journal of preventive medicine
Veterans crisis line contacts after the 988 suicide and crisis lifeline rollout
IntroductionThis study identifies changes in Veterans Crisis Line (VCL) contact volume following the 988 National Suicide Prevention Hotline rollout, and examines changes in contact volume for self-identified Veterans.MethodsVCL's Medora database was analyzed from July 2018 to June 2023, fitting linear interrupted time series models to forecast trends after the July 2022 rollout of the 988 Suicide Prevention Hotline. Data analysis was performed from 2023 to 2024.ResultsAfter the 988 rollout, average monthly VCL contact volume increased by 5,388 contacts (8.2%). The number of contacts self-identifying as Veterans increased by 2,739 (6.2%), while the percentage of self-identifying Veteran contacts who could be linked to VHA records declined by 3.8%.ConclusionsThe 988 rollout was associated with increased VCL contact volume and broad changes in the profile of users. This underscores the importance of …
2024/3/18
Article DetailsMitchell R. Lunn, MD, MAS, FASN, FACP
Stanford University
American Journal of Preventive Medicine
Culturally Tailored Anti-Smoking Messages: A Randomized Trial With US Sexual Minority Young Women
IntroductionThis study evaluated effects of exposure to culturally tailored anti-smoking ads versus control ads on quitting intentions, cigarette purchase intentions, and tobacco industry perceptions among young adult, cisgender and transgender, sexual minority women (SMW).Study DesignAn online randomized controlled experiment with 1-month longitudinal follow-up was conducted.Setting and ParticipantsAbout 2,214 U.S. SMW ages 18–30 were recruited via online survey panels (The PRIDE Study and Prolific), social media ads and posts, and HER dating app ads. Data were collected in 2021–2022.InterventionParticipants were randomly assigned to receive up to 20 tailored ads containing LGBTQ+ branding versus 20 control ads without LGBTQ+ branding over 4 weeks. Both conditions used identical anti-smoking statements and photographs (including several photographs of individuals who self-identified as …
2024/5/1
Article DetailsKristian Larsen
University of Toronto
American Journal of Preventive Medicine
Children's Independent Mobility, School Travel, and the Surrounding Neighborhood
IntroductionChildren's active travel to and from school (AST) and children's independent mobility (CIM) are consistently positively associated with physical activity (PA); however, few researchers have investigated associations between objective measures of the environment and indicators of AST and CIM in national samples.MethodsA national sample of 2,067 Canadian parents of 7- to 12-year-old children was recruited in December 2020. Regression analyses were used in 2023 to assess the association between geographic information system measures of park density, blue space, population density, greenspace, intersection density, and CIM and AST to and from school.ResultsChildren in areas with high versus low park density (>0.025 vs. ≤0.025) had higher odds of travel to school via active modes (OR: 1.47 [1.14, 1.91], p=0.003). Children in neighborhoods in the highest quartile for neighborhood …
2024/5/1
Article DetailsHONG-WEN DENG
Tulane University
American Journal of Preventive Medicine
Social and Behavior Factors of Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias: A National Study in the US
IntroductionConsiderable research has linked many risk factors to Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD). Without a clear etiology of ADRD, it is advantageous to rank the known risk factors by their importance and determine if disparities exist. Statistical-based ranking can provide insight into which risk factors should be further evaluated.MethodsThis observational, population-based study assessed 50 county-level measures and estimates related to ADRD in 3,155 counties in the U.S. using data from 2010 to 2021. Statistical analysis was performed in 2022–2023. The machine learning method, eXtreme Gradient Boosting, was utilized to rank the importance of these variables by their relative contribution to the model performance. Stratified ranking was also performed based on a county's level of disadvantage. Shapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) provided marginal contributions for each variable …
2024/4/1
Article DetailsChristine Mauro
Columbia University in the City of New York
American Journal of Preventive Medicine
Impact and Equity of New York City's Tobacco Retail Reduction Initiative
Introduction: High levels of tobacco retailer density in communities is associated with a range of tobacco use behaviors and is a key structural driver of tobacco-related disparities. This study evaluates the impacts of New York City's (NYC) novel policy intervention to cap tobacco retail licenses on tobacco retailer density levels and neighborhood inequities in tobacco access.Methods: Using geocoded tobacco retail licensing data from 2010 to 2022, Bayesian conditional autoregressive Poisson panel models estimated the association between policy implementation in 2018 and retailer density per 1,000 population, controlling for neighborhood-level sociodemographic factors. Data were analyzed in 2023.Results: The number of tobacco retail licenses decreased from 9,304 in 2010 to 5,107 in 2022, with the rate of decline significantly accelerating post-policy (-14·2% versus -34·2%). Policy effects were stronger in …
2024/2/1
Article DetailsEric Fleegler
Harvard University
American Journal of Preventive Medicine
Health-Related Social Risks Versus Needs in a Pediatric Emergency Department
IntroductionHealth-related social problems may be conceptualized as the presence of either a social risk (i.e., food insecurity as defined by a screening tool) or a social need (i.e., desire for referral to a food program). Identification of social risks may not correlate with patients’ desire to receive help. This study aimed to identify and compare patients and families with social risks versus social needs in a pediatric emergency department.MethodsThis was a planned secondary analysis conducted in 2023 of a previously published prospective intervention study, which screened and referred caregivers and adult patients for health-related social problems in an urban tertiary pediatric emergency department between May 2019 and October 2020. Participants completed a screening tool for social risks and self-identified social needs by selecting desired assistance from a list of social service categories. Participants’ social …
2024/3/29
Article Details