Emerging Treatments for Common Mental Health Conditions Affecting Veterans: Stellate Ganglion Block Interventions

16 March 2026

Emerging Treatments for Common Mental Health Conditions Affecting Veterans: Stellate Ganglion Block Interventions

Overview

DVA commissioned Gallipoli Medical Research Foundation (GMRF) to undertake a rolling Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA) of emerging and adjunct treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and common mental health conditions affecting veterans. The emerging treatments were psychedelic interventions (i.e., ketamine; methylenedioxymethamphetamine, MDMA; lysergic acid diethylamide, LSD; psilocybin; and dimethyltryptamine, DMT, including ayahuasca), medicinal cannabis, d-cycloserine (DCS), stellate ganglion block (SGB), and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS, including theta burst stimulation, TBS). The initial REA was delivered in a tranche of seven individual reports in 2022. Four update reports were contracted at 6-monthly intervals to incorporate the most up-to-date information from newly published studies. The goal of the REA was to provide an evidence base to develop a flexible, yet robust, decision-making process that allows DVA to assess emerging treatments for veterans who have not responded to evidence-based treatments.

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Emerging Treatments for Common Mental Health Conditions Affecting Veterans: Psychedelic Interventions

16 March 2026

Technical Report - Psychedelic Interventions

Overview

DVA commissioned Gallipoli Medical Research Foundation (GMRF) to undertake a rolling Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA) of emerging and adjunct treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and common mental health conditions affecting veterans. The emerging treatments were psychedelic interventions (i.e., ketamine; methylenedioxymethamphetamine, MDMA; lysergic acid diethylamide, LSD; psilocybin; and dimethyltryptamine, DMT, including ayahuasca), medicinal cannabis, d-cycloserine (DCS), stellate ganglion block (SGB), and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS, including theta burst stimulation, TBS). The initial REA was delivered in a tranche of seven individual reports in 2022. Four update reports were contracted at 6-monthly intervals to incorporate the most up-to-date information from newly published studies. The goal of the REA was to provide an evidence base to develop a flexible, yet robust, decision-making process that allows DVA to assess emerging treatments for veterans who have not responded to evidence-based treatments.

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Active Choices: A ‘stepped-down’ program to promote self-managed physical activity in DVA clients Summary Report (2021)

18 March 2026

Technical Report

Overview

Self-managing physical activity can be challenging and programs that help DVA clients to manage their own physical activity regimes are needed. This project developed and trialled a new physical activity support program for DVA clients called Active Choices

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Rapid Evidence Assessment to support active ageing for veterans

18 March 2026

Technical Report

Evidence Profile

Overview

Findings from the REA identify strategies to support and sustain healthy behaviours as part of active ageing in Australian veterans. The research suggests that interventions that promote an active physical and cognitive lifestyle not only help prevent and combat mental and physical health decline, they also increase quality of life and well-being in later life for all veterans.

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Timor-Leste Family Study (2012)

18 March 2026

Technical Report

Overview

This study investigated the effects on the health and wellbeing of the families of Australian Defence Force members who were deployed to Timor-Leste, and a control group of those who were eligible to deploy to Timor-Leste but did not.

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Transition And Wellbeing Research Programme: Mental Health Prevalence and Pathways to Care Summary Report (2018)

13 March 2026
Overview

This report overviews and contextualises the Mental Health and Wellbeing Transition Study methodology, describes the study populations and presents the key findings from the first two technical reports of the Study, Mental Health Prevalence and Pathways to Care. The Mental Health and Wellbeing Transition Study is one of three studies that comprise the Transition and Wellbeing Research Programme.

 

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What is the prevalence of risk-taking behaviours in the children of former or current military personnel?

16 March 2026
Overview

This literature review examines the evidence for the prevalence of risk-taking behavior by children of former or current military personnel. Risk-taking behavior is examined by focusing on the evidence for high-risk drinking, illicit drug use and pharmaceutical misuse, dangerous driving, unsafe sex, crime, delinquency and school absenteeism.

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Hallucinogens as treatment for PTSD, anxiety and depression

18 March 2026
Overview

The aim of this rapid evidence assessment (REA) was to assess the evidence related to hallucinogenic drug interventions for PTSD, anxiety, and depression in adults.

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Literature review of effects of fuel and solvent exposure on human female reproductive outcomes

16 March 2026
Overview

The aim of this Rapid Evidence Assessment (REA) was to conduct a review of the scientific evidence regarding whether occupational exposures to jet fuels and specified solvents of most relevance to the military were associated with risks to the reproductive health of women.

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The role of meditational practices and mindfulness in improving mental health

18 March 2026
Overview

The aim of this rapid evidence assessment (REA) was to assess the evidence related to meditation and mindfulness practices (meditation, transcendental meditation, mantra, yoga, and mindfulness) for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and alcohol use disorder (AUD) in adults.

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