Programs for Care System Transitions in Mental Health: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Over the past two decades, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has invested unparalleled resources into developing effective treatments for military-related psychological health conditions. Systematic reviews, which are a key component in the knowledge translation process, function to translate the available research into evidence-based health care guidelines that promote optimal clinical care. Although a few government agencies, including the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), have established evidence synthesis centers, there is no similar center within DoD that focuses exclusively on psychological health issues. Thus, the Southern California Evidence-Based Practice Center, which is affiliated with the RAND Corporation, has been awarded a multiyear contract to synthesize research on psychological health interventions important to military populations. This document is a systematic review. The review will be of interest to health policymakers and practitioners, as well as to patients experiencing transitions in mental health care. None of the authors has any conflict of interest to declare.The research reported here was completed in May 2021 and underwent security review by the sponsor and the Defense Office of Prepublication and Security Review before public release.