Military veterans and behavioral medicine: introduction to the special issue.

This special issue of the Journal of Behavioral Medicine highlights emerging research at the intersection of military veteran populations and behavioral medicine. Military service, while associated with numerous strengths and opportunities for growth, also exposes service members and veterans to a range of unique psychological, behavioral, social, and physical health challenges across the life course. Veterans may experience elevated rates of a variety of mental and behavioral health conditions, including posttraumatic stress disorder, chronic pain, sleep disturbances, substance use disorders, and suicide risk, as well as higher rates of common chronic health conditions such as asthma, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes mellitus, and rheumatoid arthritis. The twenty articles included in this issue encompass empirical investigations, qualitative studies, intervention trials, systematic reviews, implementation studies, and expert consensus work involving diverse veteran populations and health care settings. Major themes include mental and behavioral health, suicide prevention, chronic illness self-management, chronic pain, telehealth and digital therapeutics, peer support, implementation science, and the transition from military to civilian life. Collectively, these contributions underscore the importance of addressing social and structural determinants of health, expanding access to evidence-based interventions, and leveraging innovative models of care to improve health outcomes among veterans and their families.