Influence
January 15, 2025

Mental Health Utilization Among Transgender Veterans

Published in the journal JAMA Network Open. Here is a link to the article.

Regenstrief Institute authors: Jennifer Carnahan, M.D., MPH and Michael Weiner, M.D., MPH

This cohort study examined mental health care utilization among transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) veterans with depression, compared to cisgender (CG) veterans. Using U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs electronic health records from 2018 to 2020, researchers matched 2,643 TGD veterans with 7,921 CG veterans by age group and VA facility. TGD identity was determined by a gender identity disorder diagnosis. The study measured mental health care utilization, including outpatient, telehealth, emergency department, and inpatient visits. TGD veterans had significantly more specialty mental health visits than CG veterans—averaging 13.93 visits per year versus 8.46. Adjusted logistic regression showed that TGD veterans were 2.6 times more likely to have an outpatient mental health visit. These findings suggest that TGD veterans with depression use mental health services more frequently than their CG counterparts, indicating that different or expanded health system resources may be needed to address the needs of TGD individuals. Further research is needed to understand and address the causes of these disparities.

Authors

Joy L. Lee, PhD, M.S. 1,2,3,4; Adam Hirsh, PhD 5; Archana Radhakrishnan, M.D., MHS 6,7; Guneet K. Jasuja, PhD, MPH 2,8,9; Stanley Taylor, M.A. 1; Stephanie Dickinson, M.S. 10; Jocelyn Mineo, M.S. 10; Jennifer Carnahan, M.D., MPH 1,4,11; Michael Weiner, M.D., MPH 1,4,11

Author Affiliations

1VA Center for Health Information and Communication, US Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Health Systems Research CIN 13-416, Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, Indiana

2VA Center for Healthcare Optimization and Implementation Research, US Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, VA Bedford Healthcare System, Bedford, Massachusetts

3Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts

4The Regenstrief Institute, Inc, Indianapolis, Indiana

5Department of Psychology, Indiana University Indianapolis, Indianapolis

6Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

7VA Center for Clinical Management Research, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, Michigan

8Section of General Internal Medicine, Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts

9Department of Health Law, Policy and Management, School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts

10Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington

11Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis

Related News

Dr. Babar Khan on All IN

Renowned delirium researcher and clinician named Regenstrief interim center director

Babar Khan, M.D., M.S., a renowned delirium research scientist and pulmonary and critical care clinician, has been named interim

Regenstrief Research Scientist Wanzhu Tu, PhD

Parental liver disease death more than doubles risk of alcohol-associated hepatitis in next generation

In a groundbreaking study, research scientists from the Indiana University School of Medicine and Regenstrief Institute found that individuals

image of elderly woman discussing pill bottle with her doctor

American Geriatrics Society unveils updated alternatives to potentially harmful medications for older adults

Regenstrief researcher serves on expert panel providing clinicians, patients and families with credible, actionable alternatives The American Geriatrics Society

Regenstrief experts drive global dialogue on AI in healthcare at MedInfo 2025

Regenstrief experts drive global dialogue on AI in healthcare at MedInfo 2025

Regenstrief Institute research scientists and professional staff joined presenters from around the world at the MedInfo 2025 conference from