Low Levels of Fatty Acids May Increase Suicide Among Troops WASHINGTON, DC—Low levels of the highly unsaturated omega-3 essential fatty acids, in particular DHA, may be associated with increased risk of suicide, according to new research. The retrospective study, conducted by researchers from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and the National Institute of Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse, sought to determine whether deficiencies of neuroactive, highly unsaturated omega-3 essential fatty acids (n-3 HUFAs), in particular docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are associated with increased risk of suicide death among a large random sample of active-duty US military. More
VA, Justice Department Appeal 9th Circuit Ruling on Veteran Health Access SAN FRANCISCO—The Obama Administration is challenging a court ruling that would force VA to make sweeping changes to its mental healthcare system. The ruling—handed down by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco in May—was the end-result of a 2008 lawsuit brought by two veteran service organizations contending that VA's long delays in providing mental health care and veterans benefits was a violation of veterans' due process under their 5th Amendment rights. The appeal, which seeks a hearing before the courts full panel of 11 judges, claims that the decision oversteps judiciary authority and hijacks VA's ability to oversee its healthcare system. More
New TRICARE Management Activity Deputy Director Selected WASHINGTON, DC—Brig. Gen. W. Bryan Gamble has been selected as the new deputy director of the TRICARE Management Activity. Gamble is currently the commanding general of the Dwight David Eisenhower Army Medical Center at Fort Gordon, Ga., and deputy commander of the Southern Regional Medical Command, Fort Sam Houston, Texas. He will assume his post at TMA in mid-September. More
Specialty Update: Schizophrenia
Improved Schizophrenia Control Could Reduce VA Suicide Rate Suicide among veterans has grabbed its fair share of headlines in recent weeks. Much of the focus has been on VA’s difficulty in providing timely care, especially to veterans returning from deployment with PTSD, TBI or other neuropsychological conditions. What has largely been overlooked is that VA provides care to about 170,000 veterans with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder; schizophrenia carries with it an extremely high risk of suicide attempts, between 20% and 50% of cases. More
Schizophrenia Can Have Serious Consequences in Military Setting Accurate schizophrenia screening and treatment are critical for the military, but the process is complicated by a simple fact: The age of initial onset of schizophrenia symptoms coincides closely with the age at which many enter the military; schizophrenia usually appears between ages 16 to 25 with an average onset of age 18 for men and slightly older for women. Screening also is difficult because of the relative rarity of the disease and because sufferers are likely to try to hide it, if they can. More
Specialty Update: Women’s Health
What Women Want: Assessing How VA Meets Health Care Needs With an influx of women a veteran entering the VA system in higher numbers than ever before, the department has given women’s health care high priority. One step in addressing this growing population is assessing what women are looking for in a VA health-care experience. A study recently conducted by VA’s Center for Comprehensive Access and Delivery Research and Evaluation (CADRE) looked at 1,002 VA-enrolled Midwestern women veterans to determine their preference and perceptions with sole or dual VA healthcare use. More
Specialty Update: Immunology
How Does Strenuous Exercise Affect Soldiers' Immune Systems? It may be possible to predict a soldier’s infection risks during and after strenuous physical exercise by pre-exercise immune system status or from a blood sample taken at rest, according to a recent study. According to the Swedish researchers, strain is put on the troops’ immune system in a military setting in many ways. This includes strenuous physical activity, sleep deprivation, caloric deficit and, environmental and mental stress. More
Brenda L. Mooney Editorial Director, U.S. Medicine mooney@usmedicine.com 39 York Street Lambertville, NJ 08530
It may be possible to predict a soldier’s infection risks during and after strenuous physical exercise by pre-exercise immune system status or from a blood sample taken at rest, according to a recent study. According to the Swedish researchers, strain is put on the troops’ immune system in a military setting in many ways. This includes strenuous physical activity, sleep deprivation, caloric deficit and, environmental and mental stress.