The relationship between uncertainty in illness and psychological adjustment to chronic illness.

Using Mishel's Uncertainty in illness theory, this integrative review sought to identify how uncertainty in illness and psychological adjustment to illness are associated with chronic illness to guide development of interventions to support psychological adjustment. A search was conducted via EBSCOHost to answer the question "What is the relationship between uncertainty in illness and psychological adjustment to chronic illness?" Two key factors were identified as having an impact on psychological adjustment to chronic illness in the presence of uncertainty in illness including uncertainty appraisal and the type of coping strategies used in response to the appraisal. Individuals with a chronic illness diagnosis are more likely to experience increased levels of uncertainty in illness and decreased psychological adjustment to illness. A better understanding of these two concepts is important to augment and or guide the development of interventions to support psychological adjustment.

Social support in relation to posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms among patients with violent versus nonviolent injury.

OBJECTIVE: Violent injuries have become increasingly more common in the United States. Individuals experiencing violent injury are at increased risk for the development of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as compared to those experiencing nonviolent injury. Social support is touted as a protective factor against various psychiatric symptoms (i.e., PTSD), though little is known about the relation between PTSD symptoms and social support in traumatic injury populations. The aims of the present paper were twofold: (1) examine the prevalence of PTSD as a function of injury type (2) explore differences in levels of social support as a function of injury type and (3) explore the association between injury type and later PTSD symptoms as moderated by baseline social support. METHOD: Participants were 553 adults from a level-one trauma center in the Southeast United States who experienced a violent injury or nonviolent injury and completed measures of social support at baseline as well as PTSD symptoms at the 30-day follow-up timepoint. The study utilized data from both the baseline timepoint (i.e., upon admission to the trauma surgery unit), as well as a 30-day follow-up timepoint. RESULTS: Results demonstrated that those endorsing nonviolent injury reported lower levels of social support and PTSD symptoms. Social support predicted later PTSD symptoms until injury type was included as a covariate in the model. Social support did not moderate the relationship between injury type and later PTSD symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Findings highlight the interrelatedness of key risk variables (i.e., injury type) with protective factors in influencing the trajectory of psychopathology postinjury. Violence intervention and interruption programs may have the capacity to fill patient needs when social support networks are insufficient. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Mental health symptoms and engagement in a stepped-care mental health service among patients with a violent versus nonviolent injury.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have examined mental health symptom trajectories and engagement in mental health follow-up in relation to mechanism of injury. This study examined differences in engagement between survivors of nonviolent and violent injury in the Trauma Resilience and Recovery Program (TRRP), a stepped-care, technology-enhanced model that provides evidence-based mental health screening and treatment to patients admitted to our Level I trauma service. METHODS: This study analyzed data from 2,527 adults enrolled in TRRP at hospital bedside between 2018 and 2022, including 398 patients (16%) with a violent injury and 2,129 patients (84%) with a nonviolent injury. Bivariate and hierarchical logistic regression analyses examined relations between injury type (violent vs. nonviolent) engagement in TRRP and mental health symptoms at 30 day follow-up. RESULTS: Engagement in services at bedside was similar across survivors of violent and nonviolent traumatic injury. Patients with violent injury had higher levels of posttraumatic stress disorder and depressive symptoms 30 days postinjury but were less likely to engage in mental health screening. Among patients who screened positive for posttraumatic stress disorder and depression, patients with violent injury were more likely to accept treatment referrals. CONCLUSION: Patients with a violent traumatic injury have higher levels of mental health needs yet face greater barriers to accessing mental health services following their injury relative to those with a nonviolent injury. Effective strategies are needed to ensure continuity of care and access to mental health care to promote resilience and emotional and functional recovery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic/Care Management; Level IV.

Implementation of a Stepped Care Program to Address Emotional Recovery among Traumatic Injury Patients.

BACKGROUND: Annually, over 600,000 adults served in US trauma centers (≥20%) develop posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and/or depression in the first year after injury. American College of Surgeons guidelines include screening and addressing mental health recovery in trauma centers. Yet, many trauma centers do not monitor and address mental health recovery, and it is a priority to learn how to implement evidence-informed mental health programs in trauma centers. STUDY DESIGN: This report describes our application of the Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, Sustainment model to implement the Trauma Resilience and Recovery Program (TRRP) in 3 Level I and II trauma centers to address patients' mental health needs. TRRP is a scalable and sustainable stepped model of care-one of the few in the US-that provides early intervention and direct services after traumatic injury. RESULTS: Trauma centers are well positioned to accelerate patients' mental health recovery via early identification, education, screening, and referrals to mental health agencies that provide best-practice care. We found that TRRP was acceptable to the 3 partnering trauma centers we studied. Early engagement of patient, provider, and hospital administration stakeholders enhanced buy-in during the early stages of the implementation process and promoted sustainability. Active processes to support monitoring, evaluation, and adaptation were critical. CONCLUSIONS: Our work demonstrates the feasibility of implementing and adapting TRRP, a cost-efficient and sustainable stepped care intervention, in Level I and II trauma centers. Several factors should be carefully considered by trauma centers seeking to integrate behavioral health interventions into their trauma program.

Behavioral Health Screening and Follow-Up Services in Pediatric Trauma Centers Across the United States.

OBJECTIVE: Over 120,000 U.S. children are hospitalized for traumatic injury annually, a major risk factor for behavioral health problems such as acute/posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. Pediatric trauma centers (PTCs) are well positioned to address the recent mandate by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma to screen and refer for behavioral health symptoms. However, most PTCs do not provide screening or intervention, or use varying approaches. The objective of this mixed-methods study was to assess PTCs' availability of behavioral health resources and identify barriers and facilitators to service implementation following pediatric traumatic injury (PTI). METHODS: Survey data were collected from 83 Level I (75%) and Level II (25%) PTC program managers and coordinators across 36 states. Semistructured, qualitative interviews with participants (N = 24) assessed the feasibility of implementing behavioral health education, screening, and treatment for PTI patients and caregivers. RESULTS: Roughly half of centers provide behavioral health screening, predominantly administered by nurses for acute stress/PTSD. Themes from qualitative interviews suggest that (1) service provision varies by behavioral health condition, resource, delivery method, and provider; (2) centers are enthusiastic about service implementation including screening, inpatient brief interventions, and follow-up assessment; but (3) require training and lack staff, time, and funding to implement services. CONCLUSIONS: Sustainable, scalable, evidence-based service models are needed to assess behavioral health symptoms after PTI. Leadership investment is needed for successful implementation. Technology-enhanced, stepped-care approaches seem feasible and acceptable to PTCs to ensure the availability of personalized care while addressing barriers to sustainability.

Longitudinal and bidirectional associations between posttraumatic stress disorder and emotional support among disaster-affected men and women.

Research has demonstrated a negative association between social support and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This has been interpreted as a protective influence of social support against the development of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). Research on the opposite association is more limited, but findings suggest that PTSS have a negative impact on social support. There is conflicting evidence that these effects are moderated by gender. Few studies have assessed both associations and gender moderation in a postdisaster context. We examined the longitudinal and bidirectional effects of emotional support and PTSS and whether gender moderates these effects among U.S. survivors of the 2017-2018 season. Participants (N = 1,347) were assessed at four time points over 1 year. Bidirectional effects were assessed using cross-lagged, autoregressive analyses with the combined sample (Model 1) and grouped by gender (Model 2) to assess gender moderation. The results supported small bidirectional negative effects of social support and PTSS on one another from one assessment point (e.g. Wave 1) to the subsequent point (e.g., Wave 2) for all waves, ßs = -.07-.15, p < .001-p = .040. Multigroup analyses suggested the effects were not significantly different by gender. Overall, the results suggest that social support and PTSS may mutually diminish one another. Such effects may result in a positive or negative cascade wherein high PTSS may lead to lower social support and, therefore, even higher PTSS and vice versa. These findings support the importance of including social support in interventions to promote PTSS prevention and recovery.

A Distinction Without a Difference? A Multi-Method Approach to Understanding PTSD and Depression Symptom Overlap Among Disaster-Exposed Adolescents.

Among adolescents exposed to trauma, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) commonly co-occur. Despite the prevalence of comorbidity, the question of how PTSD and MDD are related and appropriate conceptual models for understanding their linkage in adolescence remains unclear. This study applies a multi-methodological approach to advance conceptual and theoretical understanding of the overlap between PTSD and MDD diagnoses/symptoms. We tested three methodological approaches with three distinct theoretical underpinnings on the structure of each disorder proposed in the literature: confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) with dimensional constructs, latent class analysis (LCA) with person-based categorical constructs, and network analysis with symptom-to-symptom associations. Across the three different analytical approaches, there was a significant overlap between PTSD and MDD. Overall, there was no compelling evidence for distinct boundaries between disorders among trauma-exposed adolescents. Instead, we found considerable evidence that the typical latent-construct-based conceptualizations, whether categorical or dimensional, may need revision.

Differences in mental health engagement and follow-up among Black and White patients after traumatic injury.

BACKGROUND: Severe injury necessitating hospitalization is experienced by nearly three million US adults annually. Posttraumatic stress disorder and depression are prevalent clinical outcomes. The mechanisms by which programs equitably promote mental health recovery among trauma-exposed patients are understudied. We evaluated clinical outcomes and engagement among a cohort of Black and White patients enrolled in the Trauma Resilience and Recovery Program (TRRP), a stepped-care model to accelerate mental health recovery after traumatic injury. METHODS: Trauma Resilience and Recovery Program is a four-step model that includes (1) bedside psychoeducation about mental health recovery following traumatic injury, (2) a text-messaging symptom tracking system, (3) a 30-day postinjury mental health screen, and (4) referrals to mental health services. Data describe 1,550 patients enrolled in TRRP within a Level I trauma center ( Mage = 40.86; SD, 17.32), 611 of whom identified as Black (74.5% male) and 939 of whom identified as White (67.7% male). RESULTS: Enrollment in TRRP was nearly universal (97.9%) regardless of race or injury mechanism. Enrollment and usage of the text-message system were statistically similar between Black (35.7%) and White patients (39.5%). Trauma Resilience and Recovery Program reengaged Black and White patients at a similar rate at the 30-day postinjury follow-up. However, Black patients were more likely to report peritraumatic distress at the bedside and clinical elevations in posttraumatic stress disorder and depression on the 30-day screen. Referrals were more likely to be accepted by Black patients relative to White patients with clinically elevated symptoms. CONCLUSION: Enrollment and engagement were comparable among Black and White patients served by TRRP. Data provide preliminary evidence to suggest that TRRP is feasible and acceptable and engages patients in mental health follow-up equitably. However, research that includes careful measurement of social determinants of health and long-term follow-up examining initiation, completion, and benefit from treatment is needed. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic/Care Management; Level III.

Caregivers' and Young Children's Emotional Health Needs After Pediatric Traumatic Injury.

Pediatric traumatic injury (PTI) is associated with emotional health difficulties, but most US trauma centers do not adequately address emotional recovery needs. This study aimed to assess families' emotional health needs following PTI and determine how technology could be used to inform early interventions. Individual semi-structured, qualitative interviews were conducted with caregivers of children admitted to a Level I trauma center in the Southeastern United States to understand families' experiences in-hospital and post-discharge. Participants included 20 caregivers of PTI patients under age 12 (M = 6.4 years; 70% male, 45% motor vehicle collision). Thematic analysis was used to analyze data from interviews that were conducted until saturation. Caregivers reported varying emotional needs in hospital and difficulties adjusting after discharge. Families responded enthusiastically to the potential of a technology-enhanced resource for families affected by PTI. A cost-effective, scalable intervention is needed to promote recovery and has potential for widespread pediatric hospital uptake.

Assessing service quality and access in trauma centers through behavioral health screening, education, and treatment after pediatric injury.

BACKGROUND: Over 120,000 U.S. children are hospitalized annually for traumatic injury, with approximately 20% developing acute stress disorder (ASD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or depression. The ACS COT recommends that trauma centers address emotional recovery after injury; however, few pediatric trauma centers (PTCs) assess behavioral health symptoms. This study describes results from a survey with PTC providers assessing the landscape of behavioral health screening, education, and treatment. METHODS: Trauma program leaders from 83 US Level I and II trauma centers across 36 states completed a survey assessing center characteristics and decision-making, availability, and perceptions of behavioral health resources. RESULTS: Nearly half (46%) of centers provide behavioral health screens for pediatric patients, and 18% screen family members, with screens mostly conducted by nurses or social workers for ASD or PTSD. Two-thirds provide child behavioral health education and 47% provide education to caregivers/family. Two-thirds provide treatment connections, typically via referrals or outpatient clinics. Behavioral health screening, education, and treatment connections were rated as very important (M > 8.5/10), with higher ratings for the importance of screening children versus caregivers. Child maltreatment (59%), observed patient distress (53%), child substance use (52%), injury mechanism (42%) and severity (42%) were prioritized in screening decision-making. CONCLUSION: Service provision varies by method, resource, and provider, highlighting the lack of a roadmap for centers to provide behavioral health services. Adoption of universal education and screening procedures in PTCs is crucial to increase access to services for injured children and caregivers. PTCs are well-positioned to offer these services. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II.

HOME DM-BAT: home-based diabetes-modified behavioral activation treatment for low-income seniors with type 2 diabetes-study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: About 13% of African Americans and 13% of Hispanics have diabetes, compared to 8% of non-Hispanic Whites (NHWs). This is more pronounced in the elderly where about 25-30% of those aged 65 and older have diabetes. Studies have found associations between social determinants of health (SDoH) and increased incidence, prevalence, and burden of diabetes; however, few interventions have accounted for the context in which the elderly live by addressing SDoH. Specifically, psychosocial factors (such as cognitive dysfunction, functional impairment, and social isolation) impacting this population may be under-addressed due to numerous medical concerns addressed during the clinical visit. The long-term goal of the project is to identify strategies to improve glycemic control and reduce diabetes complications and mortality in African Americans and Hispanics/Latinos with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: This is a 5-year prospective, randomized clinical trial, which will test the effectiveness of a home-based diabetes-modified behavioral activation treatment for low-income, minority seniors with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) (HOME DM-BAT). Two hundred, aged 65 and older and with an HbA1c ≥8%, will be randomized into one of two groups: (1) an intervention using in-home, nurse telephone-delivered diabetes education, and behavioral activation or (2) a usual care group using in-home, nurse telephone-delivered, health education/supportive therapy. Participants will be followed for 12 months to ascertain the effect of the intervention on glycemic control, blood pressure, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. The primary hypothesis is low-income, minority seniors with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes randomized to HOME DM-BAT will have significantly greater improvements in clinical outcomes at 12 months of follow-up compared to usual care. DISCUSSION: Results from this study will provide important insight into the effectiveness of a home-based diabetes-modified behavioral activation treatment for low-income, minority seniors with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus and inform strategies to improve glycemic control and reduce diabetes complications in minority elderly with T2DM. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04203147 ). Registered on December 18, 2019, with the National Institutes of Health Clinical Trials Registry.

Barriers to Accessing Mental Health Care After a Sexual Assault Medical Forensic Examination.

BACKGROUND: Research indicates low rates of accessing mental health care following sexual assault; however, barriers associated with accessing care are not well understood. DESIGN: Participants (N = 37) were recruited from a local hospital following a sexual assault medical forensic examination (SAMFE). Hierarchical linear regressions models examined the effects of age, racial identity, student status, insurance status, relationship to perpetrator, time since assault, problematic drinking, and posttraumatic stress symptoms on (a) barriers to accessing care and (b) the likelihood of seeking mental health treatment at no charge. RESULTS: Lack of insurance was associated with more barriers to accessing mental health care and a higher likelihood of seeking post-SAMFE care at no charge. Posttraumatic stress symptoms were associated with more barriers to accessing care (p = 0.038). Identifying as a student (p = 0.026) and engaging in problematic drinking (p = 0.047) were associated with a lower likelihood of seeking post-SAMFE care, whereas increased symptoms of posttraumatic stress were associated with a greater likelihood of seeking post-SAMFE care (p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Providing post-SAMFE care, irrespective of insurance, may be a needed first step in addressing the mental health needs of individuals with recent sexual assault. Secondary prevention programs targeted toward alcohol misuse may also be warranted.

Addressing the psychological impact of elder mistreatment: Community-based training partnerships and telehealth-delivered interventions.

This manuscript describes a two-pronged approach to addressing elder abuse in community-residing older adults. Part 1 of the program involves briefly training community healthcare providers to screen for elder abuse and refer for services; Part 2 is an intervention program that addresses mental health impacts of elder abuse in a non-stigmatizing, non-threatening manner, and leverages telehealth for greater reach.

Telehealth and indigenous populations around the world: a systematic review on current modalities for physical and mental health.

Approximately 370-500 million Indigenous people live worldwide. While Indigenous peoples make up only 5% of the world's population, they account for 15% of the extreme poor and have life expectancy that is 20 years shorter than that of non-Indigenous people. Access to healthcare has been identified as an important social determinant of health and key driver of health outcomes. Indigenous populations often face barriers to accessing healthcare including living in remote areas, lacking financial resources, and having cultural differences. Telehealth, the utililzation of any synchronous modality, including phone, video, or teleconferencing technology used to support the provision of long-distance health care and health education, is a feasible and cost-effective treatment delivery mechanism that has successfully addressed access barriers faced by vulnerable populations globally, however, few studies have included indigenous populations and the application of this technology to improve physical and mental health outcomes. This systematic review aims to identify trials that were conducted among Indigenous adults, and to summarize the components of interventions that have been found to effectively improve the health of Indigenous peoples. The PRISMA guidelines for reporting of systematic reviews were followed in preparing this manuscript. Studies were identified by searching PubMed, Scopus, and PsychInfo databases for clinical trial articles on Indigenous peoples and mental and physical health, published between January 1, 1998 and December 31, 2018. Eligibility criteria for determining studies to include in the analysis were as follows: (I) ≥18 years of age; (II) indigenous peoples; (III) any technology-based intervention; (IV) studies included at least one of the following mental health (depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, suicide) and physical health (mortality, blood pressure, hemoglobin A1C, cholesterol, quality of life) outcomes; (V) clinical trials. A total of 2,662 articles were identified and six were included in the final review based on pre-specified eligibility criteria. Three were conducted in the United States, one study was conducted in Canada, and two were conducted in New Zealand. Study sample sizes ranged from 20 to 762, intervention delivery times ranged from three to 20 months and utilized telephone, internet and SMS messaging as the type of technology. There is a paucity of evidence on the use of telehealth programs to increase access to chronic disease programs in Indigenous populations. This review highlights the importance of culturally tailoring programs despite the modality in which they are delivered, and recommends telephone-based delivery facilitated by a trained health professional. Telehealth has great promise for meeting the health needs of highly marginalized Indigenous populations around the world, however, at this point more research is needed to understand how best to structure and deliver these programs for maximum effect.

Patient Engagement in a Technology-Enhanced, Stepped-Care Intervention to Address the Mental Health Needs of Trauma Center Patients.

BACKGROUND: Annually, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, or both, develop in the first year after injury in more than 400,000 adults treated in US trauma centers (≥20%). Yet, few trauma centers monitor and address mental health recovery, and there is limited evaluation and high structural variability across existing programs. More research is needed to guide efforts to establish such programs and to inform national standards and recommendations. STUDY DESIGN: This article describes patient engagement in a stepped-care service to address patients' mental health needs. Trauma-activation patients admitted to our Level I trauma center for at least 24 hours were approached before discharge. Patients were provided education in person at the bedside (step 1), symptom monitoring via a 30-day text-messaging tool (step 2), telephone screening approximately 30 days post injury (step 3), and, when appropriate, mental health treatment referrals and treatment (step 4). RESULTS: We approached and educated 1,122 patients (56%) on the floor during a 33-month period. Of these, 1,096 patients (98%) enrolled in our program and agreed to 30-day follow-up mental health screening. We reached 676 patients for the 30-day screen, 243 (36%) of these patients screened positive for post-traumatic stress disorder and/or depression. Most of the 243 patients who graduated to step 4 accepted treatment referrals (68%) or were already receiving services from a provider (7%). Home-based telemental health was preferred by 66% of patients who accepted referrals. CONCLUSIONS: This work demonstrates the feasibility of an evidence-based, technology-enhanced, stepped-care intervention to address the mental health needs of trauma center patients. Strategies to reach a higher percentage of patients in follow-up are needed. We recommend trauma centers test and adopt broad-based approaches to ensure optimal long-term patient outcomes.

Usability Testing of a Mobile Health Intervention to Address Acute Care Needs after Sexual Assault.

Sexual assault is associated with a range of poor mental health outcomes. To enhance access to care by this population, technology-based mental health interventions have been implemented in the emergency room; however, more accessible and easily disseminated interventions are needed. The aim of the present study was to test the usability of a mobile health intervention targeting alcohol and drug misuse, suicide prevention, posttraumatic stress symptoms, coping skills, and referral to formal assistance for individuals who have experienced sexual assault. Feedback on the usability of the intervention was collected from individuals who received a sexual assault medical forensic examination (n = 13), and feedback on the usability and likelihood of recommending the application was collected from community providers (n = 25). Thematic analysis was used to describe qualitative data. Content themes related to aesthetics, usability, barriers to resources, and likes/dislikes about the intervention arose from interviews following the intervention. Participants found the intervention to be user friendly and endorsed more likes than dislikes. Providers rated the intervention as being helpful and would recommend it to survivors of sexual assault. Findings suggest that the intervention is usable and fit for future effectiveness testing, filling an important gap in treatment for individuals who experience sexual assault.

Trauma Resilience and Recovery Program: Addressing Mental Health in Pediatric Trauma Centers.

OBJECTIVE: Approximately 225,000 children sustain injuries requiring hospitalization annually. Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression are prevalent among pediatric patients and caregivers post-injury. Most U.S. trauma centers do not address patients' mental health needs. Better models of care are needed to address emotional recovery. This article describes the engagement and recovery trajectories of pediatric patients enrolled in the Trauma Resilience and Recovery Program (TRRP), a stepped-care model to accelerate emotional recovery following hospitalization. METHODS: TRRP is designed to (a) provide in-hospital education about post-injury emotional recovery and assess child and caregiver distress; (b) track mental health symptoms via a 30-day text-messaging program; (c) complete 30-day PTSD and depression phone screens; and (d) provide evidence-based treatment via telehealth or in-person services or referrals, if needed. All 154 families approached were offered TRRP services, 96% of whom agreed to enroll in TRRP. Most patients were boys (59.8%), and average age was 9.12 years [standard deviation (SD) = 5.42]. Most injuries (45.8%) were sustained from motor vehicle accidents. RESULTS: In hospital, 68.5% of caregivers and 78.3% of children reported clinically significant distress levels. Over 60% of families enrolled in the texting service. TRRP re-engaged 40.1% of families for the 30-day screen, 35.5% of whom reported clinically significant PTSD (M = 13.90, SD = 11.42) and/or depression (M = 13.35, SD = 11.16). Most (76%) patients with clinically significant symptomology agreed to treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Our intervention model was feasible and increased reach to families who needed services. Efforts to improve follow-up engagement are discussed, as are initial successes in implementing this model in other pediatric trauma centers.

Pilot Evaluation of a Tablet-Based Application to Improve Quality of Care in Child Mental Health Treatment.

Mental health systems need scalable solutions that can reduce the efficacy-effectiveness gap and improve mental health outcomes in community mental health service settings. Two major challenges to delivery of high-quality care are providers' fidelity to evidence-based treatment models and children's and caregivers' engagement in the treatment process. We developed a novel, tablet-based application designed to enhance via technology the quality of delivery of trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (TF-CBT). We piloted its use in four community mental health service organizations using a blocked randomized controlled trial to examine the feasibility of implementing tablet-facilitated TF-CBT versus standard TF-CBT with 13 providers and 27 families. Provider fidelity and child engagement in treatment were observationally measured via session audio recording. Parent and child perceptions of the tablet application were assessed using structured interviews and mixed-method analyses. Providers actively and appropriately used tablet TF-CBT to facilitate treatment activities. Providers and families expressed high satisfaction with its use, demonstrating acceptability of this approach. Youth and caregivers in both conditions reported high alliance with their providers. Overall, we found that tablet-facilitated treatment is accepted by providers and families and may be integrated into mental health treatment with minimal training. Further study is needed to examine the extent to which technology-based applications may enhance the reach, quality, and clinical outcomes of mental health treatment delivered to children and families.

Implementation and Utility of an Automated Text Messaging System to Facilitate Symptom Self-Monitoring and Identify Risk for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Depression in Trauma Center Patients.

Background and Introduction: Comprehensive monitoring and follow-up after traumatic injury is important for psychological recovery. However, scalable services to facilitate this are limited. Automated text message-based symptom self-monitoring (SSM) may be a feasible approach. This study examined its implementation and utility in identifying patients at risk for mental health difficulties after traumatic injury.Materials and Methods: Five hundred two patients admitted to a Level I trauma center between June 20, 2016 and July 31, 2017 were offered enrollment in a text message-based SSM service. Patients who enrolled received daily text message prompts over 30 days and most participated in a mental health screening 30 days postbaseline.Results: Approximately 67% of patients enrolled in the service; of these, 58% responded to the text messages, with an average response rate of 53%. Younger patients and those with elevated peritraumatic distress were more likely to enroll. Patients with higher levels of mental health stigma, who were White, or had been in a motor vehicle collision were more likely to enroll and respond to text messages once enrolled. Patients' daily ratings of distress detected clinically elevated 30-day mental health screens with high sensitivity (83%) and specificity (70%).Discussion and Conclusions: Text message-based SSM can be implemented as a clinical service in Level I trauma centers, and patient participation may increase engagement in mental health follow-up. Further, it can inform the use of risk assessments in practice, which can be used to identify patients with poor psychological recovery who require additional screening.