Mental Health
“We aim to be a real learning mental health care system, answering the practical questions that patients, families, and mental health clinicians care about.”
Greg Simon, MD, MPH
Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute Senior Investigator
Research overview
Mental health is a vital part of overall health. But traditional mental health care reaches only a fraction of the millions who could benefit. So, researchers at Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute (KPWHRI) are finding practical, patient-centered ways to reach people affected by conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety.
“Many of the ideas that are changing American mental health care were first tested here at Kaiser Permanente Washington,” said Gregory Simon, MD, MPH, senior investigator at KPWHRI and a Kaiser Permanente Washington psychiatrist. “We’re now working to spread those innovations to large health systems across the country.”
Some of the mental health research group’s current projects include:
- Conducting research to optimize firearm suicide prevention in health care
- Developing methods to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in suicide risk prediction
- Expanding a program to reduce the burden for caregivers of patients with a dementia diagnosis
- Testing an intervention to guide earlier access to services for youth with symptoms or concerns related to their mental health
- Reducing suicide attempts among high-risk teens and young adults
- Testing interventions for variables associated with dementia risk, such as depression and social isolation, in elderly patients
- Developing a model to predict risk of a psychosis spectrum disorder diagnosis
- Improving tailoring of depression care using customized clinical decision support
- Studying how peer support is being used to support youth mental health
Innovative patient-centered mental health programs developed at KPWHRI include:
- Using collaborative care to integrate depression mental health care with general medical care
- Developing flexible, patient-centered psychotherapy programs organized around people’s preferences and values and delivered online or by phone
- Identifying and addressing racial and ethnic disparities in mental health treatment
- Tailoring depression programs for people with other health conditions (diabetes, heart disease, obesity)
- Using technology such as the web and secure email for outreach and care coordination
- Facilitating earlier identification of people at risk for self-harm or suicide attempts
- Improving physical health in people with severe mental health problems
- Combining peer support with professional treatment for mood disorders
- Broadening the focus of mental health treatment from symptom management to recovery
- Activating mental health patients to be more knowledgeable and assertive
- Reducing use of high-risk medications in both children and older adults
- Collaborating with health systems through the national Mental Health Research Network to systematically measure and improve outcomes of care
“We are partnering with health care leaders at Kaiser Permanente Washington and other health systems to test innovative programs and implement treatments that work,” Simon said. “We want ‘learning health care system’ to be more than a slogan.”
Recent publications on Mental Health
Jones SM, LaCroix AZ, Li W, Zaslavsky O, Wassertheil-Smoller S, Weitlauf J, Brenes GA, Nassir R, Ockene JK, Caire-Juvera G, Danhauer SC. Depression and quality of life before and after breast cancer diagnosis in older women from the Women's Health Initiative. J Cancer Surviv. 2015 Feb 24. [Epub ahead of print]. PubMed
Jones SM, Amtmann D, Gell NM. A psychometric examination of multimorbidity and mental health in older adults. Aging Ment Health. 2015 Feb 12:1-9 [Epub ahead of print]. PubMed
Verhaaren BF, Debette S, Bis JC, Smith JA, Ikram MK, Adams HH, Beecham AH, Rajan KB, Lopez LM, Barral S, van Buchem MA, van der Grond J, Smith AV, Hegenscheid K, Aggarwal NT, de Andrade M, Atkinson EJ, Beekman M, Beiser AS, Blanton SH, Boerwinkle E, Brickman AM, Bryan RN, Chauhan G, Chen CP, Chouraki V, de Craen AJ, Crivello F, Deary IJ, Deelen J, De Jager PL, Dufouil C, Elkind MS, Evans DA, Freudenberger P, Gottesman RF, Guðnason V, Habes M, Heckbert SR, Heiss G, Hilal S, Hofer E, Hofman A, Ibrahim-Verbaas CA, Knopman DS, Lewis CE, Liao J, Liewald DC, Luciano M, van der Lugt A, Martinez OO, Mayeux R, Mazoyer B, Nalls MA, Nauck M, Niessen WJ, Oostra BA, Psaty BM, Rice KM, Rotter JI, von Sarnowski B, Schmidt H, Schreiner PJ, Schuur M, Sidney SS, Sigurdsson S, Slagboom PE, Stott DJ, van Swieten JC, Teumer A, Töglhofer AM, Traylor M, Trompet S, Turner ST, Tzourio C, Uh HW, Uitterlinden AG, Vernooij MW, Wang JJ, Wong TY, Wardlaw JM, Windham BG, Wittfeld K, Wolf C, Wright CB, Yang Q, Zhao W, Zijdenbos A, Jukema JW, Sacco RL, Kardia SL, Amouyel P, Mosley TH, Longstreth WT Jr, DeCarli CC, van Duijn CM, Schmidt R, Launer LJ, Grabe HJ, Seshadri SS, Ikram MA, Fornage M. Multi-ethnic genome-wide association study of cerebral white matter hyperintensities on MRI. Circ Cardiovasc Genet. 2015 Feb 7. pii: CIRCGENETICS.114.000858 [Epub ahead of print]. PubMed
Davies G, Armstrong N, Bis JC, Bressler J, Chouraki V, Giddaluru S, Hofer E, Ibrahim-Verbaas CA, Kirin M, Lahti J, van der Lee SJ, Le Hellard S, Liu T, Marioni RE, Oldmeadow C, Postmus I, Smith AV, Smith JA, Thalamuthu A, Thomson R, Vitart V, Wang J, Yu L, Zgaga L, Zhao W, Boxall R, Harris SE, Hill WD, Liewald DC, Luciano M, Adams H, Ames D, Amin N, Amouyel P, Assareh AA, Au R, Becker JT, Beiser A, Berr C, Bertram L, Boerwinkle E, Buckley BM, Campbell H, Corley J, De Jager PL, Dufouil C, Eriksson JG, Espeseth T, Faul JD, Ford I, Scotland G, Gottesman RF, Griswold ME, Gudnason V, Harris TB, Heiss G, Hofman A, Holliday EG, Huffman J, Kardia SL, Kochan N, Knopman DS, Kwok JB, Lambert JC, Lee T, Li G, Li SC, Loitfelder M, Lopez OL, Lundervold AJ, Lundqvist A, Mather KA, Mirza SS, Nyberg L, Oostra BA, Palotie A, Papenberg G, Pattie A, Petrovic K, Polasek O, Psaty BM, Redmond P, Reppermund S, Rotter JI, Schmidt H, Schuur M, Schofield PW, Scott RJ, Steen VM, Stott DJ, van Swieten JC, Taylor KD, Trollor J, Trompet S, Uitterlinden AG, Weinstein G, Widen E, Windham BG, Jukema JW, Wright AF, Wright MJ, Yang Q, Amieva H, Attia JR, Bennett DA, Brodaty H, de Craen AJ, Hayward C, Ikram MA, Lindenberger U, Nilsson LG, Porteous DJ, Räikkönen K, Reinvang I, Rudan I, Sachdev PS, Schmidt R, Schofield PR, Srikanth V, Starr JM, Turner ST, Weir DR, Wilson JF, van Duijn C, Launer L, Fitzpatrick AL, Seshadri S, Mosley TH Jr, Deary IJ. Genetic contributions to variation in general cognitive function: a meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies in the CHARGE consortium (N=53 949). Mol Psychiatry. 2015 Feb 3. doi: 10.1038/mp.2014.188. [Epub ahead of print]. PubMed
Ahmedani BK, Solberg LI, Copeland LA, Fang-Hollingsworth Y, Stewart C, Hu J, Nerenz DR, Williams LK, Cassidy-Bushrow AE, Waxmonsky J, Lu CY, Waitzfelder BE, Owen-Smith AA, Coleman KJ, Lynch FL, Ahmed AT, Beck A, Rossom RC, Simon GE. Psychiatric comorbidity and 30-day readmissions after hospitalization for heart failure, AMI, and pneumonia. Psychiatr Serv. 2015;66(2):134-40. doi: 10.1176/appi.ps.201300518. Epub 2014.Nov 1. PubMed
Researchers in Mental Health
 Gregory E. Simon, MD, MPHSenior Investigator |
 Ben Balderson, PhDSenior Collaborative Scientist |
 Katharine A. Bradley, MD, MPHSenior Investigator |
 Paula Lozano, MD, MPHSenior Investigator; Director, ACT Center |
 Jennifer B. McClure, PhDDirector, Investigative Science |
 Robert Penfold, PhDSenior Investigator |
 Susan M. Shortreed, PhDSenior Biostatistics Investigator |
 Dori E. Rosenberg, PhD, MPHSenior Investigator |
 Gwen Lapham, PhD, MPH, MSWAssistant Investigator |
 Jennifer F. Bobb, PhDAssociate Biostatistics Investigator |
 Joseph E. Glass, PhD, MSWAssociate Investigator |
 Julie E. Richards, PhD, MPHAssistant Investigator |
 Paige D. Wartko, PhD, MPHSenior Collaborative Scientist |
 Yates Coley, PhDAssociate Biostatistics Investigator |
 Abisola Idu, MS, MPHCollaborative Biostatistician |
 Eric Johnson, MSSenior Collaborative Biostatistician |
 Rod L. Walker, MSPrincipal Collaborative Biostatistician |
 Robert D. Wellman, MSPrincipal Collaborative Biostatistician |
 Leah K. Hamilton, PhDSenior Collaborative Scientist |
 Brian D. Williamson, PhDAssistant Biostatistics Investigator |
 Rosemary Meza, PhD, MSCollaborative Scientist |
 Morgan Justice, MACollaborative Scientist |
 Theresa E. Matson, PhD, MPHCollaborative Scientist |
 Lily N. Shapiro, PhDCollaborative Scientist |
Affiliate researchers in mental health
Paul Crane, MD, MPH
Professor, Internal Medicine
University of Washington
Patrick Heagerty, PhD
Professor and Chair, Department of Biostatistics
University of Washington
Laura P. Richardson, MD, MPH
Adolescent Medicine
Seattle Children's Hospital
Professor, Department of Pediatrics
University of Washington
Noah R. Simon, PhD
Assistant Professor, Biostatistics
University of Washington
Principal Investigator, Therapeutics Development
Seattle Children’s Research Institute
Emily Williams, PhD, MPH
Investigator
Health Services Research & Development
VA Puget Sound Health Care System
Research
Suicide attempts decreased after adding suicide care to primary care
Safety planning and risk screening improved outcomes for adult patients.
Research
A better approach to prevent teen suicide deaths
New grant funds crucial work to test effectiveness of teen suicide prevention in primary care.
Research
Can machine learning help treat depression more effectively?
A new grant funds modeling work to make personalized treatment possible.
Research
Understanding adoption of Lock to Live, a decision aid supporting suicide prevention
KPWHRI research finds ways to increase use of a firearm safety tool.
Research
A medication that can relieve symptoms of psychosis is underused
Study finds that many patients who might benefit from clozapine don’t receive it.
Research
Improving and advancing mental health care
KPWHRI researchers are contributing to better mental health care for people nationwide.
Research
Asking about firearm access can normalize and support dialogue for patients
Findings provide roadmap for addressing barriers and improving suicide prevention.
News
Richards and Nelson earn research awards
Honors from the Health Care Systems Research Network for early career achievements and manuscript of the year
Suicide prevention
‘Do you have access to guns?’ Answers before suicide death
A new study shows an opportunity to better identify patients at risk.
IMPACT Center
Improving mental health care for youth
A new center will support using evidence-based practices in under-resourced settings such as schools.
Research
Addressing the crisis of youth suicide in America
Rob Penfold, PhD, writes about suicide trends in children and adolescents and what researchers are doing about them.
Video
Tools and support for people thinking about suicide
Now Matters Now helps people cope with suicidal thoughts by sharing the strategies of people who have been there.
Suicide prevention
Most mental health patients answer firearm question
Study shows patients will usually answer a question about firearm access, providing key information for suicide prevention.
Virtual screening
Detecting, assessing suicidal ideation during COVID-19
How new processes improved suicide risk identification when mental health visits went virtual.
KPWHRI In the Media
Understanding rise in youth emergency visits for mental health
Rise in suicide-related ED visits among youth raises larger questions around mental health care
STAT News, May 2, 2023
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