Greg Simon, MD, MPH, is a psychiatrist and senior investigator well-known for his extensive research on practical approaches to improving mental health care. He seeks to develop and evaluate effective real-world strategies that support better mental health and wellness. Current areas of emphasis include identifying and assessing suicide risk, improving care for treatment-resistant depression, and early intervention for mental health conditions in children and youth.
Dr. Simon leads the Mental Health Research Network (MHRN), a consortium of research centers affiliated with 13 large health systems across the United States, including Kaiser Permanente Washington. This network, funded through a cooperative agreement with the National Institute of Mental Health, aims to improve the efficiency, relevance, and impact of mental health clinical and health services research. Now in its second five-year funding cycle, the MHRN is exploring a broad range of issues—including suicide prevention, improving heart health in people with serious mental illness, using electronic medical records to improve follow-up care for depression, and understanding the causes of racial and ethnic disparities in mental health care.
Dr. Simon and his MHRN colleagues are conducting several large studies across MHRN health systems, including:
Dr. Simon is an editor for the Cochrane Collaboration’s depression and anxiety review group, sits on the editorial board for General Hospital Psychiatry, and serves on the advisory board for the National Institutes of Health’s All of Us Program (formerly Precision Medicine Initiative). Earlier, he served on the editorial boards of Psychiatric Services and Psychological Medicine and chaired the scientific advisory board for the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance. Dr. Simon has practiced adult psychiatry in Kaiser Permanente Washington's Mental Health and Wellness Service since 1990 and is a research professor in psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the University of Washington.
Depression; bipolar disorder; suicide prevention; self-management; treatment adherence
Comorbidity of mental health conditions with obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and substance use disorders.
Simon GE. Can depression be managed appropriately in primary care? J Clin Psychiatry. 1998;59 Suppl 2():3-8. PubMed
Simon GE. Mood disorders. Curr Opin Psychiatry. 1998;11:55-56.
Simon GE, Fishman P. Cost implications of initial antidepressant selection in primary care. Pharmacoeconomics. 1998;13(1 Pt 1):61-70. PubMed
Simon GE, VonKorff M. Prevalence, burden, and treatment of insomnia in primary care. Am J Psychiatry. 1997;154(10):1417-23. PubMed
Gureje O, Ustun TB, Simon GE. The syndrome of hypochondriasis: a cross-national study in primary care. Psychol Med. 1997;27(5):1001-10. PubMed
Gureje O, Simon GE, Ustun TB, Goldberg DP. Somatization in cross-cultural perspective: a World Health Organization study in primary care. Am J Psychiatry. 1997;154(7):989-95. PubMed
Robinson P, Katon W, Von Korff M, Bush T, Simon G, Lin E, Walker E. The education of depressed primary care patients: what do patients think of interactive booklet and a video? J Fam Pract. 1997;44(6):562-71. PubMed
Russo J, Katon W, Lin E, Von Korff M, Bush T, Simon G, Walker E. Neuroticism and extraversion as predictors of health outcomes in depressed primary care patients. Psychosomatics. 1997;38(4):339-48. PubMed
Unutzer J, Patrick DL, Simon G, Grembowski D, Walker E, Rutter C, Katon W. Depressive symptoms and the cost of health services in HMO patients aged 65 years and older. A 4-year prospective study. JAMA. 1997;277(20):1618-23. PubMed
Katon W, Von Korff M, Lin E, Unutzer J, Simon G, Walker E, Ludman E, Bush T. Population-based care of depression: effective disease management strategies to decrease prevalence. Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 1997;19(3):169-78. PubMed
Safety planning and risk screening improved outcomes for adult patients.
A new grant funds modeling work to make personalized treatment possible.
KPWHRI research finds ways to increase use of a firearm safety tool.
Study finds that many patients who might benefit from clozapine don’t receive it.
KPWHRI researchers are contributing to better mental health care for people nationwide.