MIRECC / CoE

This website focuses on evidence-based treatments for depression, insomnia, substance use, chronic pain, relationship distress and suicidal thoughts. However effective treatments and tools are now available for many different invisible wounds. This section provides information about treatment, educational resources, and self-help tools for various conditions. We hope the resources listed in this section are helpful to you or someone you care about for taking the next step — whether that is learning more, developing new skills, or reaching out for support.

This listing of resources is provided for information purposes and is not an endorsement of any specific resource.

1. Depression

   What is Depression?

   Depression: What You Need to Know

   This booklet, from the National Institute of Mental Health, provides science-backed information and publications about depression and different types of available treatments.

   NIH National Institute on Aging

   This webpage, from the National Institute on Aging, includes specific information and resources on depression in older adults.

   Mobile Apps & Online Tools

   ACT Coach

   This free app, developed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, is based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). ACT aims to help you live with unpleasant thoughts, feelings, and impulses without avoiding them or being controlled by them. In ACT, you are encouraged to commit to actions so that you can live your life by your values, even in the face of these unpleasant experiences. This app was developed for Veterans, Service Members, and other people who are in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy with a therapist. It offers exercises, tools, information, and tracking logs so you can practice what you're learning in your daily life.

   Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression

   What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression?

   VA Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression brochure

   This brief brochure provides information about Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for depression treatment for Veterans.

   Research and Evaluation Studies

   1. Karlin, B. E., Brown, G. B., Trockel, M., Cunning, D., Zeiss, A. M., & Taylor, C. B. (2012). National dissemination of cognitive behavioral therapy for depression in the Department of Veterans Affairs health care system: Therapist and patient-level outcomes. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 80(5), 707-718.
   2. Karlin, B. E., Trockel, M., Brown, G. K., Gordienko, M., Yesavage, J., & Taylor, C. B. (). Comparison of the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy for depression among older versus younger veterans: Results of a national evaluation. The Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, 70(1), 3-12.
   3. Brown, G. K., Karlin, B. E., Trockel, M., Gordienko, M., Yesavage, J., & Taylor, C. B. (2016). Effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy for veterans with depression and suicidal ideation. Archives of Suicide Research, 20(4), 677-682.
   4. Hofmann, S. G., Asnaani, A., Vonk, I. J., Sawyer, A. T., & Fang, A. (2012). The efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy: A review of meta-analyses. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 36(5), 427-440.

   Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Depression

   What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Depression?

   VA Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Depression brochure

   This brief brochure provides information about Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for Depression for Veterans.

   Acceptance and Commitment Therapy — Research Recovery Institute

   This webpage, from the Research Recovery Institute, provides information about Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and what treatment involves.

   Research and Evaluation Studies

   1. Walser, R. D., Garvert, D., Karlin, B. E., Trockel, M., Ryu, D. M., & Taylor, C. B. (2015). Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in treating depression and suicidal ideation in Veterans. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 74, 25-31.
   2. Karlin, B. E., Walser, R. D., Yesavage, J., Zhang, A., Trockel, M., & Taylor, C. B. (2013). Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy for depression: Comparison among older and younger veterans. Aging & Mental Health, 17(5), 555-563.
   3. Twohig, M. P., & Levin, M. E. (2017). Acceptance and Commitment Therapy as a treatment for anxiety and depression: A review. Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 40(4),, 751-770.

2. Insomnia

   What is Insomnia?

   National Health, Lung, and Blood Institute

   This webpage, from the National Health, Lung, and Blood Institute, provides an overview of insomnia, including causes, signs and symptoms, and information about different treatment options.

   National Center on Sleep Disorders Research

   This webpage, from the National Center on Sleep Disorders Research, offers educational information about sleep and other helpful tools for promoting healthy sleep.

   Mobile Apps & Online Tools

   CBT-i Coach

   This free app, developed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, is based on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for insomnia treatment. It is designed to help Veterans learn more about how sleep works and how to make changes to your approach to sleep.

   Improve Your Sleep: A Self-Guided Approach for Veterans with Insomnia

   This free workbook, developed by sleep experts in the Department of Veterans Affairs, provides a self-guided approach to help Veterans with insomnia improve their sleep. It may be used alone or along with the CBT-i Coach mobile app listed above.

   SleepEZ

   This free web-based program, developed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, is a self-paced approach to CBT for insomnia treatment.

   Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia

   What is CBT for Insomnia?

   VA Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia brochure

   This brief brochure provides information about Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for insomnia for Veterans.

   Research and Evaluation Studies

   1. Trockel, M., Karlin, B. E., Taylor, C. B., & Manber, R. (2014). Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia with veterans: evaluation of effectiveness and correlates of treatment outcomes. Behavior Research and Therapy, 53, 41-46.
   2. Karlin, B. E., Trockel, M., Spira, A. P., Taylor, C. B., & Manber, R. (2015). National evaluation of the effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia among older versus younger veterans. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 30(3), 308-315.
   3. Trockel, M., Karlin, B. E., Taylor, C. B., Brown, G. K., & Manber, R. (2015). Effects of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia on suicidal ideation in veterans. Sleep, 38(2), 259-265.
   4. Trauer, J. M., Qian, M. Y., Doyle, J. S., Rajaratnam, S. M., & Cunnington, D. (2015). Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for chronic insomnia: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Annals of Internal Medicine, 163(3), 191-204.

3. Suicide

   Information about Suicide

   Veterans and Military Crisis Line

   The Veterans and Military Crisis Line provides Veterans and Military Service members in emotional distress or crisis and their families and friends with caring and confidential support and guidance from trained responders. Support is available through toll-free hotline, online chat, and text messaging service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. You may also take a confidential self-check quiz. A responder will leave a personal response for you within 30 minutes.

   VA Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC)

   This website, from the Rocky Mountain MIRECC, provides a variety of suicide prevention resources and educational materials for Veterans and family members.

   National Institute for Mental Health

   This webpage, from the National Institute for Mental Health, provides information, publications, and resources related to suicide and suicide prevention.

4. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

   What is PTSD?

   PTSD Basics

   This webpage, operated by the National Center for PTSD, provides information about PTSD, different types of trauma, and treatment options. Information is provided in both English and Spanish.

   What is PTSD video

   This short video, produced by the National Center for PTSD, provides an easy-to-understand overview of PTSD.

   National Institute for Mental Health

   This website, from the National Institute of Mental Health, provides information about PTSD, PTSD symptoms, and effective treatments.

   AboutFace

   This website, operated by the National Center for PTSD, provides stories of real Veterans who have PTSD and who have received treatment.

   Mobile Apps & Online Tools

   PTSD Coach

   This free app, developed by the National Center for PTSD, provides information, and teaches skills for coping with symptoms of PTSD.

   PTSD Family Coach

   This free app, developed by the National Center for PTSD, offers resources to support family members of those living with PTSD.

   Mindfulness Coach

   This free app, developed by the National Center for PTSD, teaches mindfulness skills to help reduce stress and increase ability to cope with unpleasant thoughts and emotions.

   What are Evidence-Based Psychotherapies for PTSD?

   PTSD Treatment: Know Your Options video

   This video offers an overview of the different types of treatment that are available for PTSD.

   Evidence-Based Treatment for PTSD video

   This video describes what evidence-based treatments for PTSD are.

   Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD video

   This video introduces Cognitive Processing Therapy, an evidence-based treatment for PTSD, an evidence-based treatment for PTSD highly recommended by experts.

   Prolonged Exposure Therapy for PTSD video

   This video introduces Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PE), an evidence-based treatment for PTSD, an evidence-based treatment for PTSD highly recommended by experts.

   VA Prolonged Exposure Therapy for PTSD brochure

   This brief brochure provides an overview of Prolonged Exposure Therapy for PTSD.

   VA Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD brochure

   This brief brochure provides an overview of Cognitive Processing Therapy for PTSD.

   Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing for PTSD overview

   This webpage, from the National Center for PTSD, provides an overview of Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing for PTSD.

   Research and Evaluation Studies

   1. Eftekhari, A., Ruzek, J. I., Crowley, J., Rosen, C., Greenbaum, M. A., & Karlin, B. E. (2013). Effectiveness of national implementation of Prolonged Exposure Therapy in VA care. JAMA Psychiatry, 70(9), 949-955.
   2. Powers, M. B., Halpern, J. M., Ferenschak, M. P., Gillihan, S. J., & Foa., E. B. (2010). A meta-analytic review of prolonged exposure for posttraumatic stress disorder. Clinical Psychology Review, 30(6), 635-641.
   3. Forbes, D., Lloyd, D., Nixon, R. D. V., Elliott, P. Varker, T., Perry, D., . . . Creamer, M. (2012). A multisite randomized controlled effectiveness trial of cognitive processing therapy for military-related posttraumatic stress disorder. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 26(3), 442-452.
   4. Monson, C. M., Schnurr, P. P., Resick, P. A., Friedman, M. J., Young-Xu, Y., & Stevens, S. P. (2006). Cognitive processing therapy for veterans with military-related posttraumatic stress disorder. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 74(5), 898-907.
   5. Chen, Y., Hung, K., Tsai, J., Chu, H., Chung, M., Chen, S., . . . Chou, K. R. (2014). Efficacy of eye-movement desensitization and reprocessing for patients with posttraumatic-stress disorder: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. PLoS ONE, 9(8), e103676.

5. Substance Use Conditions

   What are Substance Use Conditions?

   National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism: Rethinking Drinking: Alcohol and Your Health

   This website and accompanying booklet from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, provides information about healthy and unhealthy drinking patterns, signs of a possible problem with alcohol, and self-help tools.

   Substance Use Disorders Education

   This website, operated by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, offers an overview of the different substance use disorders.

   Drugs, Brains, and Behavior: The Science of Addiction

   This online publication, from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, describes the science behind addiction.

   Mobile Apps & Online Tools

   Stay Quit Coach

   This free app, developed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, is designed to help Veterans with PTSD quit smoking. It provides education about smoking and quitting, tools to help users cope with urges to smoke, and motivation and support.

   VetChange

   VetChange is a free app for Veterans and Service members who are concerned about their drinking and how it relates to posttraumatic stress, and for all people who are interested in developing healthier drinking behaviors. This app provides tools for cutting down or quitting drinking, tools for managing stress symptoms, education about alcohol use and how it relates to PTSD symptoms, and guidance to find professional treatment.

   What are Evidence-Based Psychotherapies for Substance Use Disorders?

   VA Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Substance Use Disorders brochure

   This brief brochure provides an overview of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Substance Use Disorders.

   VA Motivational Enhancement Therapy for Substance Use Disorders brochure

   This brief brochure provides an overview of Motivational Enhancement Therapy for Substance Use Disorders.

   Treatments for Substance Use Disorders

   This website, operated by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, offers a one-stop shop for finding treatment for mental and substance use disorders in the U.S.

   Research and Evaluation Studies

   1. McHugh, R. K., Hearon, B. A., & Otto, M. W. (2010). Cognitive-behavioral therapy for substance use disorders. Psychiatric Clinics of North America, 33(3), 511-525.
   2. Carroll, K. M., & Onken, L. S. (2005). Behavioral therapies for drug abuse. American Journal of Psychiatry, 162(8), 1452-1460.
   3. Magill, M., & Ray, L. A. (2009). Cognitive-behavioral treatment with adult alcohol and illicit drug users: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, 70(4), 516-527.
   4. Lundahl, B., & Burke, B. L. (2009). The effectiveness and applicability of motivational interviewing: a practice-friendly review of four meta-analyses. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 65(11), 1232-1245.
   5. Powers, M. B., Vedel, E., & Emmelkamp, P. M. (2008). Behavioral couples therapy (BCT) for alcohol and drug use disorders: A meta-analysis. Clinical Psychology Review, 28(6), 952-962.

6. General Outreach & Referral

   VA Resources

   Make the Connection

   This website, developed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, includes videos of Veterans telling their stories about experiencing mental health problems and seeking treatment.

   Online Enrollment in VA Health Care

   This website provides online enrollment for Veterans interested in receiving health care in the VA system.

   VA PTSD Program Locator

   This online treatment locator identifies local PTSD treatment services within the VA health care system.

   VA Substance Use Disorder Treatment Locator

   This online treatment locator identifies local substance use treatment services within the VA health care system.

   Vet Center Program

   Vet Centers provide Veterans and family members with an opportunity to speak with a counselor or therapist — many of whom are Veterans themselves — for free and regardless of enrollment status in VA. Services are often available on a walk-in basis, without an established appointment.

   Coaching Into Care

   This free service, operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs, provides family members and friends of Veterans the opportunity to talk with a mental health professional about how to help a Veteran access mental health care.

   Caregiver Support Toolbox and Support Line

   This resource provides online toolbox, developed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, of resources to help family members who provide care and support to Veterans. A caregiver support line is also available at 1-855-260-3274.

   National Call Center for Homeless Veterans

   This resource provides a free, confidential call center available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for anyone who is concerned about a Veteran who is homeless or at risk of homelessness.

   DoD/Military Resources

   Military OneSource

   Military OneSource provides information and resources about treatment services, benefits, education and employment issues, and deployment for active-duty service members and members of the National Guard and Reserve.

   Community Resources

   NAMI HelpLine

   This website, developed by the National Alliance on Mental Illness, provides information and support for people seeking help for mental health problems and their family members. A helpline is available for requesting specific information about symptoms of mental health conditions, treatment options, local support groups, education programs, helping family members in treatment, and programs to help find employment.

   Give an Hour

   This nonprofit organization matches Veterans, military personnel, and their family members with mental health professionals in the community who volunteer to provide free care.

   National Resource Directory

   This resource directory provides information to connect Veterans, active-duty service members, and families with a wide variety of programs and services.