VA research: New findings on PTSD treatment and lung cancer

The VA's Office of Research and Development has published three significant research findings that could reshape how veterans receive care for PTSD, how VA hospitals prevent dangerous infections, and how lung cancer screenings are conducted across the system. These studies, conducted at VA medical centers across the country, offer concrete evidence for treatment approaches that directly impact veterans' health outcomes and quality of care.

The most promising finding comes from San Diego VA researchers who studied 100 veterans suffering from both PTSD and alcohol use disorder, a common and particularly challenging combination that typically leads to worse outcomes for both conditions. Half the veterans received standard prolonged exposure therapy over 12 sessions, while the other half received the same therapy plus topiramate, a medication known to reduce alcohol cravings. By the sixth session, veterans taking topiramate showed greater reduction in alcohol cravings, and by the ninth session, they also experienced fewer PTSD symptoms than the group receiving therapy alone. The research suggests that reducing alcohol cravings first may create a pathway for better PTSD treatment outcomes, offering hope for veterans who have struggled with traditional PTSD-only approaches.

In a separate study examining infection control across 103 VA medical centers, researchers found that increased use of the VA Bug Alert system significantly reduced dangerous hospital-acquired infections. This electronic tracking system automatically notifies infection prevention staff when a patient with a history of drug-resistant bacteria is admitted, allowing immediate protective measures. The data showed that every 10 days of increased system use corresponded to a 2.2 percent decrease in MRSA infections and a 5 percent decrease in CP-CRE infections, two particularly dangerous bacteria that veterans can contract during hospital stays.

VA Greater Los Angeles researchers also demonstrated that centralizing lung cancer screening coordination can increase screening rates by 75 percent compared to relying solely on individual primary care doctors to recommend screenings. By analyzing data from 2015 to 2021 involving more than 150,000 veterans, researchers found that a hybrid model combining centralized staff and support tools with primary care clinician involvement proved especially effective for rural veterans and those in disadvantaged areas. This matters because early lung cancer detection dramatically improves survival rates, yet many eligible veterans miss recommended screenings when the process depends entirely on busy primary care appointments.

These research findings are particularly relevant for disabled veterans because they address conditions that disproportionately affect the veteran community. PTSD and substance use disorders remain among the most common service-connected disabilities, while veterans using VA medical centers for ongoing care face the same infection risks as any hospitalized patient. Veterans with service-connected respiratory conditions or smoking history may be eligible for lung cancer screening, making the improved screening process directly applicable to their care.

Veterans currently receiving PTSD treatment who also struggle with alcohol use should discuss these findings with their VA mental health provider to explore whether combined medication and therapy approaches might be appropriate for their situation. Those concerned about infection prevention during hospital stays can take comfort knowing VA facilities are actively using advanced tracking systems to protect patients. Veterans eligible for lung cancer screening based on age and smoking history should ensure they are enrolled in VA healthcare and ask their primary care team about screening availability, particularly if they live in rural areas where the centralized approach has shown the strongest benefits.