Amy Byers, PhD, MPH
Professor
Psychiatry
School of Medicine

Her research focuses on the epidemiology of late-life mental health and employs advanced epidemiological and biostatistical techniques to determine the incidence, prevalence, risk factors, and outcomes of late-life mental health disorders with the objective of reducing the burden of these disorders by informing long-term clinical care. Dr. Byers has been heavily involved in research to determine nationally representative estimates of psychiatric disorders and health care utilization among older community-dwelling adults. As a clinical epidemiologist studying geropsychiatry with an expertise in mathematical epidemiology, Dr. Byers is involved in the application of advanced methodology to address complex clinical questions at the intersection of physical and mental health in aging adults.

Dr. Byers has been funded by several agencies, including NIH (i.e., NIMH, NIA, and NIMHD), Department of Defense, and VA. She is PI of the first VA R01-level grant longitudinally investigating suicide and suicidal behavior at a national level in older U.S. Veterans. Dr. Byers’ NIH-funded research program currently focuses on suicide and suicide-related outcomes and prevalence and incidence of dementia among older Veterans and individuals reentering the community from incarceration. Leveraging national databases, Dr. Byers has built large longitudinal cohorts to study how complex and salient risk factors, such as comorbidities, polypharmacy, and history of incarceration, contribute to late-life suicide and related disorders and will lead to targeted late-life risk assessment tools. Dr. Byers has been awarded a Genius Award from UCSF’s Older Americans Independence Center to provide innovative methodologic advancements to estimate associations of suicide risk linked to specific medications.

• Comorbidity profiles in older patients last seen by mental health prior to suicide attempt.
  Aging & mental health 2023 Morin RT, Li Y, Karel MJ, Consolino T, Hwong A, Clark R, Byers AL
• Advanced Research Institute (ARI): Supporting the Geriatric Mental Health Research Pipeline.
  The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry 2023 Sirey JA, Pepin R, Aizenstein H, Taylor WD, Forester B, Okereke O, Byers AL, Bruce ML
• Comparative mRNA booster effectiveness against death or hospitalization with COVID-19 pneumonia across at-risk US Veteran populations.
  Nature communications 2023 Kelly JD, Leonard S, Boscardin WJ, Hoggatt KJ, Lum EN, Austin CC, Byers A, Tien PC, Austin PC, Bravata DM, Keyhani S
• One-Year All-Cause Mortality and Delivery of the Collaborative Chronic Care Model in General Mental Health Clinics.
  Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.) 2023 Ruderman MA, Byers AL, Bauer MS, Stolzmann K, Miller CJ, Connolly SL, Kim B
• Association of Frailty With Risk of Suicide Attempt in a National Cohort of US Veterans Aged 65 Years or Older.
  JAMA psychiatry 2023 Kuffel RL, Morin RT, Covinsky KE, Boscardin WJ, Lohman MC, Li Y, Byers AL
• A national population-based study of cannabis use and correlates among U.S. veterans prescribed opioids in primary care.
  BMC psychiatry 2023 Zaman T, Bravata DM, Byers AL, Krebs EE, Leonard SJ, Sandbrink F, Barker W, Keyhani S
• High Risk of Substance Use Disorder-Related Outcomes in Veterans Released from Correctional Facilities in Mid to Late Life.
  Journal of general internal medicine 2023 Barry LC, Steffens DC, Covinsky KE, Conwell Y, Boscardin J, Li Y, Byers AL
• Lung Cancer Screening Among U.S. Military Veterans by Health Status and Race and Ethnicity, 2017-2020: A Cross-Sectional Population-Based Study.
  AJPM focus 2023 Rustagi AS, Byers AL, Brown JK, Purcell N, Slatore CG, Keyhani S
• Lifetime history of interpersonal partner violence is associated with insomnia among midlife women veterans.
  Menopause (New York, N.Y.) 2023 Goldstein LA, Jakubowski KP, Huang AJ, Seal KH, Maguen S, Inslicht SS, Byers AL, Gibson CJ
• Posttraumatic stress disorder, suicide, and unintended overdose death in later life: A national cohort study of veterans aged 50 and older.
  Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2022 Clark R, Kuffel RL, Neylan TC, Maguen S, Li Y, Boscardin WJ, Byers AL
• Association of a Positive Drug Screening for Cannabis With Mortality and Hospital Visits Among Veterans Affairs Enrollees Prescribed Opioids.
  JAMA network open 2022 Keyhani S, Leonard S, Byers AL, Zaman T, Krebs E, Austin PC, Moss-Vazquez T, Austin C, Sandbrink F, Bravata DM
• A Paucity of Data on Veterans 65 and Older and Risk of Suicide: A Systematic Review.
  The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry 2022 Sullivan JL, Simons KV, Mills WL, Hilgeman MM, Freytes IM, Morin RT, Bower ES, Clark R, Byers AL
• Identifying correlates of suicide ideation during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional analysis of 148 sociodemographic and pandemic-specific factors.
  Journal of psychiatric research 2022 Dolsen EA, Nishimi K, LeWinn KZ, Byers AL, Tripp P, Woodward E, Khan AJ, Marx BP, Borsari B, Jiha A, Neylan TC, O'Donovan A
• Incidence of Severe COVID-19 Illness Following Vaccination and Booster With BNT162b2, mRNA-1273, and Ad26.COV2.S Vaccines.
  JAMA 2022 Kelly JD, Leonard S, Hoggatt KJ, Boscardin WJ, Lum EN, Moss-Vazquez TA, Andino R, Wong JK, Byers A, Bravata DM, Tien PC, Keyhani S
• TBI and risk of death in military veterans over 14 years: Injury severity, timing, and cause of death.
  Journal of psychiatric research 2022 Byers AL, Li Y, Barnes DE, Boscardin WJ, Peltz CB, Yaffe K
• Sleep disturbance and suicide risk among sexual and gender minority people.
  Neurobiology of stress 2022 Dolsen EA, Byers AL, Flentje A, Goulet JL, Jasuja GK, Lynch KE, Maguen S, Neylan TC
• Long-term Psychoactive Medications, Polypharmacy, and Risk of Suicide and Unintended Overdose Death Among Midlife and Older Women Veterans.
  Journal of general internal medicine 2022 Gibson CJ, Li Y, Jasuja GK, Keyhani S, Byers AL
• Addressing Suicide Risk in Patients Living With Dementia During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond.
  The Gerontologist 2022 Portacolone E, Byers AL, Halpern J, Barnes DE
• Veterans Health Administration Screening for Military Sexual Trauma May Not Capture Over Half of Cases Among Midlife Women Veterans.
  Women's health issues : official publication of the Jacobs Institute of Women's Health 2022 Hargrave AS, Maguen S, Inslicht SS, Byers AL, Seal KH, Huang AJ, Gibson CJ
• Racial/ethnic disparities in the diagnosis and management of menopause symptoms among midlife women veterans.
  Menopause (New York, N.Y.) 2022 Blanken A, Gibson CJ, Li Y, Huang AJ, Byers AL, Maguen S, Inslicht S, Seal K
• Likelihood of Lung Cancer Screening by Poor Health Status and Race and Ethnicity in US Adults, 2017 to 2020.
  JAMA network open 2022 Rustagi AS, Byers AL, Keyhani S
• Prevalence of dementia and mild cognitive impairment before incarceration.
  Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2022 Kuffel RL, Byers AL, Williams B, Fortinsky R, Li Y, Ruderman MA, Barry LC
• Digital Health Skillsets and Digital Preparedness: Comparison of Veterans Health Administration Users and Other Veterans Nationally.
  JMIR formative research 2022 Wray C, Tang J, Byers A, Keyhani S
• Sociodemographic Characteristics Associated With and Prevalence and Frequency of Cannabis Use Among Adults in the US.
  JAMA network open 2021 Jeffers AM, Glantz S, Byers A, Keyhani S
• Examining the association of social risk with heart failure readmission in the Veterans Health Administration.
  BMC health services research 2021 Wray CM, Vali M, Walter LC, Christensen L, Chapman W, Austin PC, Byers AL, Keyhani S
• Risk of Suicide Attempt in Patients With Recent Diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment or Dementia.
  JAMA psychiatry 2021 Günak MM, Barnes DE, Yaffe K, Li Y, Byers AL
• Agent Orange Exposure and Dementia Diagnosis in US Veterans of the Vietnam Era.
  JAMA neurology 2021 Martinez S, Yaffe K, Li Y, Byers AL, Peltz CB, Barnes DE
• Traumatic Brain Injury and Incidence Risk of Sleep Disorders in Nearly 200,000 US Veterans.
  Neurology 2021 Leng Y, Byers AL, Barnes DE, Peltz CB, Li Y, Yaffe K
• Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Suicide in a National Sample of Midlife and Older Women Veterans.
  Medical care 2021 Gibson CJ, Li Y, Jasuja GK, Self KJ, Seal KH, Byers AL
• Methodological Progress Note: Classification and Regression Tree Analysis.
  Journal of hospital medicine 2020 Wray CM, Byers AL
• A national study of TBI and risk of suicide and unintended death by overdose and firearms.
  Brain injury 2019 Byers AL, Li Y, Barnes DE, Seal KH, Boscardin WJ, Yaffe K
• Examining the Association of Social Determinants of Health with Missed Clinic Visits in Patients with Heart Failure in the Veterans Health Administration.
  Journal of general internal medicine 2019 Wray CM, Vali M, Byers A, Keyhani S
• Comorbidity Profiles Identified in Older Primary Care Patients Who Attempt Suicide.
  Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2019 Morin RT, Li Y, Mackin RS, Whooley MA, Conwell Y, Byers AL
• Examining the Utility of 30-day Readmission Rates and Hospital Profiling in the Veterans Health Administration.
  Journal of hospital medicine 2019 Wray CM, Vali M, Walter LC, Lopez L, Austin PC, Byers A, Keyhani S
• Comorbid TBI-depression costs in veterans: a chronic effect of neurotrauma consortium (CENC) study.
  Brain injury 2018 Dismuke-Greer CE, Gebregziabher M, Byers AL, Taber D, Axon N, Yaffe K, Egede LE
• Gender Differences in Cardiovascular Risk Related to Diabetes and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.
  The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry 2018 Gibson CJ, Li Y, Inslicht SS, Seal KH, Byers AL
• High Occurrence of Psychiatric Disorders and Suicidal Behavior Across Dementia Subtypes.
  The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry 2018 Lai AX, Kaup AR, Yaffe K, Byers AL
• Association of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury With and Without Loss of Consciousness With Dementia in US Military Veterans.
  JAMA neurology 2018 Barnes DE, Byers AL, Gardner RC, Seal KH, Boscardin WJ, Yaffe K
• Burden of Depressive Symptoms Over 2 Decades and Risk of Nursing Home Placement in Older Women.
  Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2018 Byers AL, Lui LY, Vittinghoff E, Covinsky KE, Ensrud KE, Taylor B, Yaffe K
• Increased Risk of Suicide Attempts and Unintended Death Among Those Transitioning From Prison to Community in Later Life.
  The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry 2018 Barry LC, Steffens DC, Covinsky KE, Conwell Y, Li Y, Byers AL
• Do postconcussive symptoms from traumatic brain injury in combat veterans predict risk for receiving opioid therapy for chronic pain?
  Brain injury 2018 Bertenthal D, Yaffe K, Barnes DE, Byers AL, Gibson CJ, Seal KH, Chronic Effects of Neurotrauma Consortium Study Group
• Mild TBI and risk of Parkinson disease: A Chronic Effects of Neurotrauma Consortium Study.
  Neurology 2018 Gardner RC, Byers AL, Barnes DE, Li Y, Boscardin J, Yaffe K
• Traumatic Brain Injury and Receipt of Prescription Opioid Therapy for Chronic Pain in Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans: Do Clinical Practice Guidelines Matter?
  The journal of pain 2018 Seal KH, Bertenthal D, Barnes DE, Byers AL, Gibson CJ, Rife TL, Yaffe K, Chronic Effects of Neurotrauma Consortium Study Group
• Predictors of Mental Health Services Use Across the Life Course among Racially-Ethnically Diverse Adults.
  The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry 2017 Byers AL, Lai AX, Nelson C, Yaffe K
• Association of Traumatic Brain Injury With Chronic Pain in Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans: Effect of Comorbid Mental Health Conditions.
  Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation 2017 Seal KH, Bertenthal D, Barnes DE, Byers AL, Strigo I, Yaffe K, Chronic Effects of Neurotrauma Consortium Study Group
• Trajectories of Depressive Symptoms in Older Adults and Risk of Dementia.
  JAMA psychiatry 2016 Kaup AR, Byers AL, Falvey C, Simonsick EM, Satterfield S, Ayonayon HN, Smagula SF, Rubin SM, Yaffe K
• TRAUMA EXPOSURE AND RISK OF SUICIDAL IDEATION AMONG ETHNICALLY DIVERSE ADULTS.
  Depression and anxiety 2016 Beristianos MH, Maguen S, Neylan TC, Byers AL
• Trauma Exposure and Risk of Suicidal Ideation Among Older Adults.
  The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry 2016 Beristianos MH, Maguen S, Neylan TC, Byers AL
• Mental Health Service Use Across the Life Course Among Adults With Psychiatric Disorders and Prior Suicidal Behavior.
  Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.) 2016 Byers AL, Lai AX, Arean P, Nelson JC, Yaffe K
• Geomorphic and geologic controls of geohazards induced by Nepal's 2015 Gorkha earthquake.
  Science (New York, N.Y.) 2015 Kargel JS, Leonard GJ, Shugar DH, Haritashya UK, Bevington A, Fielding EJ, Fujita K, Geertsema M, Miles ES, Steiner J, Anderson E, Bajracharya S, Bawden GW, Breashears DF, Byers A, Collins B, Dhital …
• Leisure activities and depressive symptoms in older adults with cognitive complaints.
  International psychogeriatrics 2015 Poelke G, Ventura MI, Byers AL, Yaffe K, Sudore R, Barnes DE
• Sleep Quality and Risk of Dementia Among Older Male Veterans.
  The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry 2015 Yaffe K, Nettiksimmons J, Yesavage J, Byers A
• PTSD and Risk of Incident Cardiovascular Disease in Aging Veterans.
  The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry 2014 Beristianos MH, Yaffe K, Cohen B, Byers AL
• Traumatic brain injury and risk of dementia in older veterans.
  Neurology 2014 Barnes DE, Kaup A, Kirby KA, Byers AL, Diaz-Arrastia R, Yaffe K
• Depression and dementias among military veterans.
  Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association 2014 Byers AL, Yaffe K
• Lifestyle and health-related risk factors and risk of cognitive aging among older veterans.
  Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association 2014 Yaffe K, Hoang TD, Byers AL, Barnes DE, Friedl KE
• Prisoner of war status, posttraumatic stress disorder, and dementia in older veterans.
  Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association 2014 Meziab O, Kirby KA, Williams B, Yaffe K, Byers AL, Barnes DE
• Chronicity of posttraumatic stress disorder and risk of disability in older persons.
  JAMA psychiatry 2014 Byers AL, Covinsky KE, Neylan TC, Yaffe K
• Alcohol consumption patterns and cognitive impairment in older women.
  The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry 2014 Hoang TD, Byers AL, Barnes DE, Yaffe K
• Cognitive outcomes after psychotherapeutic interventions for major depression in older adults with executive dysfunction.
  The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry 2013 Mackin RS, Nelson JC, Delucchi K, Raue P, Byers A, Barnes D, Satre DD, Yaffe K, Alexopoulos GS, Arean PA
• Long-term cumulative depressive symptom burden and risk of cognitive decline and dementia among very old women.
  The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences 2013 Zeki Al Hazzouri A, Vittinghoff E, Byers A, Covinsky K, Blazer D, Diem S, Ensrud KE, Yaffe K
• Twenty-year depressive trajectories among older women.
  Archives of general psychiatry 2012 Byers AL, Vittinghoff E, Lui LY, Hoang T, Blazer DG, Covinsky KE, Ensrud KE, Cauley JA, Hillier TA, Fredman L, Yaffe K
• Dysthymia and depression increase risk of dementia and mortality among older veterans.
  The American journal of geriatric psychiatry : official journal of the American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry 2012 Byers AL, Covinsky KE, Barnes DE, Yaffe K
• Midlife vs late-life depressive symptoms and risk of dementia: differential effects for Alzheimer disease and vascular dementia.
  Archives of general psychiatry 2012 Barnes DE, Yaffe K, Byers AL, McCormick M, Schaefer C, Whitmer RA
• Low use of mental health services among older Americans with mood and anxiety disorders.
  Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.) 2012 Byers AL, Arean PA, Yaffe K
• Depression and risk of developing dementia.
  Nature reviews. Neurology 2011 Byers AL, Yaffe K
• High occurrence of mood and anxiety disorders among older adults: The National Comorbidity Survey Replication.
  Archives of general psychiatry 2010 Byers AL, Yaffe K, Covinsky KE, Friedman MB, Bruce ML
• Depression and increased short-term hospitalization risk among geriatric patients receiving home health care services.
  Psychiatric services (Washington, D.C.) 2010 Sheeran T, Byers AL, Bruce ML
• Heritability of depressive symptoms: a case study using a multilevel approach.
  International journal of methods in psychiatric research 2009 Byers AL, Levy BR, Kasl SV, Bruce ML, Allore HG
• Differential Impact of Involuntary Job Loss on Physical Disability Among Older Workers Does Predisposition Matter?
  Research on aging 2009 Gallo WT, Brand JE, Teng HM, Leo-Summers L, Byers AL
• Depression and risk for adverse falls in older home health care patients.
  Research in gerontological nursing 2008 Byers AL, Sheeran T, Mlodzianowski AE, Meyers BS, Nassisi P, Bruce ML
• When parents matter to their adult children: filial reliance associated with parents' depressive symptoms.
  The journals of gerontology. Series B, Psychological sciences and social sciences 2008 Byers AL, Levy BR, Allore HG, Bruce ML, Kasl SV
• Range and severity of symptoms over time among older adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and heart failure.
  Archives of internal medicine 2007 Walke LM, Byers AL, Tinetti ME, Dubin JA, McCorkle R, Fried TR
• A randomized trial of depression assessment intervention in home health care.
  Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2007 Bruce ML, Brown EL, Raue PJ, Mlodzianowski AE, Meyers BS, Leon AC, Heo M, Byers AL, Greenberg RL, Rinder S, Katt W, Nassisi P
• Changes in preferences for life-sustaining treatment among older persons with advanced illness.
  Journal of general internal medicine 2007 Fried TR, Van Ness PH, Byers AL, Towle VR, O'Leary JR, Dubin JA
• The association of symptoms with health outcomes in chronically ill adults.
  Journal of pain and symptom management 2007 Walke LM, Byers AL, Gallo WT, Endrass J, Fried TR
• Prospective study of health status preferences and changes in preferences over time in older adults.
  Archives of internal medicine 2006 Fried TR, Byers AL, Gallo WT, Van Ness PH, Towle VR, O'Leary JR, Dubin JA
• Symptom assessment in community-dwelling older adults with advanced chronic disease.
  Journal of pain and symptom management 2006 Walke LM, Byers AL, McCorkle R, Fried TR
• Unmet desire for caregiver-patient communication and increased caregiver burden.
  Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 2005 Fried TR, Bradley EH, O'Leary JR, Byers AL
• Application of negative binomial modeling for discrete outcomes: a case study in aging research.
  Journal of clinical epidemiology 2003 Byers AL, Allore H, Gill TM, Peduzzi PN
• Estrogen use, APOE, and cognitive decline: evidence of gene-environment interaction.
  Neurology 2000 Yaffe K, Haan M, Byers A, Tangen C, Kuller L