VISN 19 MIRECC Staff: Patricia Alexander, PhD

Pamela J. Staves, RN, MS, NP

Title: OEF/OIF Outreach/ Clinical Coordinator

Contact Information:
Pamela.staves@va.gov 
303-399-8020 ext 2557

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Research Projects

Burden Belonging and Response to Pain in Veterans

Research Team: Peter M. Gutierrez PhD, Lisa Brenner Ph.D., Theresa D. Hernandez PhD, Nazanin Bahraini PhD, Bridget Matarazzo PsyD, Pamela Staves, RN MS NP, James Pease, MSW

This study is designed to test the psychometric properties of the Interpersonal Needs Questionnaire (INQ-12) and the Acquired Capability for Suicide Scale (ACSS) in a sample of military veterans, something which has not been done. These measures were developed to assess the constructs of Joiner’s interpersonal psychological theory of suicide. Secondary goals of the study are to determine if values mediate the relationship between reasons for living and suicide risk, and whether participants’ suicidal wish can be categorized as either escaping their problems or influencing other people.

Keywords: Suicide Prevention

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Lithium Augmentation for Hyperarousal Symptoms of PTSD: Pilot Study

Research Team: Hal S. Wortzel MD, Pamela Staves RN, MS, NP, Thomas Beresford MD, Lisa Brenner PhD, Peter Gutierrez PhD, Jeri E.F. Harwood PhD, Jeffrey Rings PhD, Latoya Conner

The proposed investigation is a pilot study intended to establish the safety and tolerability of lithium augmentation of standard psychopharmacological treatment of PTSD for combat veterans seeking treatment at the Denver VA Medical Center.

Keywords: Evidence-Based Treatments, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

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Military Suicide Research Consortium (MSRC)

Research Team: Peter M. Gutierrez PhD, Thomas Joiner PhD, Pamela Staves RN, MS, NP, Greg Riccardi PhD, Daniel McGee Sr. PhD, Kelly Moroney MA, James Pease MSW, Jetta Sadusky MA

Consortium seeks to develop more effective prevention interventions, risk assessment methods, and treatments to decrease suicide in the military.

Keywords: Evidence-Based Treatments, Suicide Prevention

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Recent Presentations

Post Deployment Reintegration

9/13/11

Pamela J. Staves, RN, MS, NP 

Women’s Health Nursing Care Conference, Denver, CO

Keywords: Gender-Specific Care

PowerPoint | PDF 

Introduction to VISN 19 MIRECC & MSRC

7/7/11

Pamela J. Staves, RN, MS, NP

Fort Collins/Greely Vet Clinics

Keywords: OEF/OIF/OND Veterans

PowerPoint | PDF 

Department of Veterans Affairs and Community Partnerships: An Update

5/20/11

Pamela J. Staves, RN, MS, NP

Bridging The Divide Summit

Keywords: Suicide Prevention

PowerPoint | PDF 

PTSD and Suicide Risk: Assessment and Intervention

12/15/10

Pamela J. Staves, RN, MS, NP

Boulder Mental Health Center

Keywords: Assessment, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Suicide Prevention

PowerPoint | PDF 

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Recent Publications (since 2009)

Brenner, L. A., Betthauser, L.M., Homaifar, B. Y., Villarreal, E., Harwood, J. E., Staves, P. J., & Huggins, J. A. (2011). Posttraumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, and suicide attempt history among Veterans receiving mental health services. Suicide & Life Threatening Behavior, 41, 416-423.

History of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or traumatic brain injury (TBI) has been found to increase risk of suicidal behavior. The association between suicide attempt history among veterans with PTSD and/or TBI was explored. Cases (N = 81) and 2:1 matched controls (N = 160) were randomly selected from a Veterans Affairs Medical Center clinical database. PTSD history was associated with an increased risk for a suicide attempt (OR = 2.8; 95% CI: 1.5, 5.1). This increased risk was present for those with and without a history of TBI. Results support incorporating PTSD history when assessing suicide risk among veterans with and without TBI.

Keywords: Suicide, PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

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Brenner, L. A., Terrio, H., Homaifar, B. Y., Gutierrez, P. M., Staves, P. J., Harwood, J. E. F., et al. (2010). Neuropsychological test performance in soldiers with blast-related mild TBI. Neuropsychology,24(2), 160-175.

This exploratory study was conducted to increase understanding of neuropsychological test performance in those with blast-related mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). The two variables of interest for their impact on test performance were presence of mTBI symptoms and history of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Forty-five soldiers postblast mTBI, 27 with enduring mTBI symptoms and 18 without, completed a series of neuropsychological tests. Seventeen of the 45 met criteria for PTSD. The Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (Frencham, Fox, & Mayberry, 2005; Spreen & Strauss, 1998) was the primary outcome measure. Two-sided, 2-sample t tests were used to compare scores between groups of interest. Presence of mTBI symptoms did not impact test performance. In addition, no significant differences between soldiers with and without PTSD were identified. Standard neuropsychological assessment may not increase understanding about impairment associated with mTBI symptoms. Further research in this area is indicated.

Keywords: PTSD, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

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Gutierrez, P.M., Brenner, L.A., Olson-Madden, J.H., Breshears, R., Homaifar, B.Y., Betthauser, L.M., et al. (Staves, P. J., & Adler, L.E.) (2009). Consultation as a means of veteran suicide prevention. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, Vol 40(6), 586-592.

The development and implementation of a suicide consultation service being run by an interdisciplinary team in a metropolitan Veteran’s Administration (VA) medical center is described. This service is grounded in a collaborative theoretical framework. An overview of the consultation process and theoretical and empirical literature to support the framework used by the service are provided. Some of the interventions commonly recommended to referring clinicians to reduce client suicide risk are reviewed. Although there are many challenges to running a service such as this, the authors conclude that the model presented is flexible enough to be applied in a variety of settings.

Keywords: Suicide, Evidence Based Treatment