# Center for Perioperative Mental Health

> **NIH NIH P50** · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · 2022 · $1,543,160

## Abstract

Abstract/Project Summary – OVERALL
The Center for Perioperative Mental Health will address a glaring deficiency in perioperative healthcare by
creating a translational platform for improving the mental healthcare of older adults undergoing surgery and
other invasive procedures. The World Health Organization defines health as a state of complete physical,
mental, and social well-being. Although perioperative medicine has developed a strong emphasis on
optimizing perioperative physical health and preventing major medical complications, the integration of mental
healthcare into perioperative care has been perfunctory. This is highlighted by evidence that depression
and anxiety are common perioperative problems that are inadequately managed in the perioperative setting;
and surgical patients with depression and anxiety have substantially worse physical, mental and social
outcomes. These negative consequences manifest as impaired long-term recovery and rehabilitation, with
hospital readmissions, persistent depression and anxiety, and ultimately poor functional recovery and quality of
life. Therefore, this Center for Perioperative Mental Health provides a timely intervention that will yield
improved perioperative health outcomes for older adults who are especially vulnerable in this period. This
transformation in care and outcomes will be actualized through the integration of evidence-based mental
healthcare into the perioperative paradigm. We propose a combined behavioral and pharmacological
intervention bundle targeting three key priority areas. First, we will provide behavioral activation, a flexible
component of cognitive behavioral therapy and standalone treatment focusing on reinforcing activities. Second,
we will optimize the pharmacological treatment of depression and anxiety. Third, we will deprescribe
medications that are harmful for brain health. In order to overcome barriers to effective, implementable care,
we will: (1) adapt, optimize and personalize treatment plans based on the heterogenous needs of different
surgical patients; (2) test effectiveness of the treatments; and (3) speed their implementation in the real-world.
The Center is structured to maximize the likelihood of success. This includes an experienced, administrative
leadership core; a sophisticated, multi-disciplinary methodological infrastructure; a diverse team of clinical
researchers and implementation scientists; and advisory boards with broadly representative stakeholders and
internationally renowned experts. Three pragmatic trials in distinct surgical subpopulations will establish how
best to implement the mental healthcare bundle in diverse surgical settings. Our vision for the Center for
Perioperative Mental Health is a transdisciplinary platform to rapidly advance the science and practice of
perioperative mental and cognitive healthcare. This Center has the potential for substantial public health
impact by revolutionizing the approach to perioperative care, based on...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10415136
- **Project number:** 5P50MH122351-02
- **Recipient organization:** WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Michael Simon Avidan
- **Activity code:** P50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $1,543,160
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-06-01 → 2025-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10415136

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10415136, Center for Perioperative Mental Health (5P50MH122351-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10415136. Licensed CC0.

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