Integration of Measurement-Based Care for Youth Depression and Suicidality Using VitalSign6.

Depression and suicidality are prevalent in youth and are associated with a range of negative outcomes. The current study aimed to evaluate a measurement-based care (MBC) software (VitalSign6) tool to improve the screening and treatment of depression and suicidality in youth aged 8-17 years within a rural, underserved population. To assess for depression and suicidality, the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 was administered as an initial screen, and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 Modified for Adolescents (PHQ-9-A) was administered if the initial screen was positive. Data were collected at medical clinics over one year, and descriptive statistics and t-tests or Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney tests were conducted. A total of 1,984 youth were initially screened (mean age of 13 years; 51.6% female); 24.2% screened positive for depression, and 14.9% endorsed suicidality. Of those who screened positive, the mean PHQ-9-A score was 12.8; 66.9% had PHQ-9-A scores in the moderate to severe range, and 44.2% endorsed suicidality. Almost half of the youth who screened positive for depression had at least one follow-up assessment, and about one quarter achieved remission 4 months after initial screening. Adolescents (12-17 years) had higher PHQ-9-A scores, higher suicidality, and more follow-up assessments than younger youth (8-11 years). Younger youth had higher rates of remission. The widespread use of MBC was feasible in this setting. It is important to utilize MBC to identify and treat youth with depression and suicidality and to do so in younger populations to improve their trajectory over time; VitalSign6 is one tool to help achieve these goals.

Characterizing Measurement-Based Care in the Texas Youth Depression and Suicide Research Network (TX-YDSRN).

Integration of measurement-based care (MBC) into clinical practice has shown promise in improving treatment outcomes for depression. Yet, without a gold standard measure of MBC, assessing fidelity to the MBC model across various clinical settings is difficult. A central goal of the Texas Youth Depression and Suicide Research Network (TX-YDSRN) was to characterize MBC across the state of Texas through the development of a standardized tool to assess the use of MBC strategies when assessing depression, anxiety, side effects, and treatment adherence. A chart review of clinical visits indicated standardized depression measures (71.2%) and anxiety measures (64%) were being utilized across sites. The use of standardized measures to assess medication adherence and side effects was limited to less than six percent for both, with the majority utilizing clinical interviews to assess adherence and side effects; yet medication was changed in nearly half. Rates of utilization of standardized measures for participants with multiple MBC forms were similar to those who only provided one form.

Electronic Mental Health Screening in a Pediatric Heart Failure and Transplant Clinic.

Adults with heart failure and transplant are at increased risk for psychiatric comorbidities. The prevalence and impact of psychiatric comorbidities have not been well studied in pediatric heart failure and transplant. This quality improvement project sought to evaluate the feasibility of utilizing electronic mental health screening measures during pediatric heart failure and transplant clinics and to explore the prevalence and severity of self-reported depressive, anxiety, and suicidal ideation symptoms. Patients aged 11 years and older who presented to a pediatric heart failure and transplant clinic were administered the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7). Medical chart review and a survey were used to examine additional variables of interest. There were no significant differences in moderate and severe mental health symptoms between gender, medical diagnoses, or those with recent hospitalizations. Pediatric patients with heart failure or transplant reported higher prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms, and similar suicidal ideation compared to the general adolescent population. Moreover, rates of depression and anxiety symptoms as well as suicidal ideation were comparable to pediatric patients with diabetes, lupus, inflammatory bowel disease, and cystic fibrosis. Results suggest electronic mental health screening is feasible for use during outpatient cardiology clinic visits and provides valuable mental health information.

Suicide risk assessment and suicide risk management protocol for the Texas Youth Depression and Suicide Research Network.

Introduction: Suicide prevention research is a national priority, and national guidance includes the development of suicide risk management protocols (SRMPs) for the assessment and management of suicidal ideation and behavior in research trials. Few published studies describe how researchers develop and implement SRMPs or articulate what constitutes an acceptable and effective SRMP. Methods: The Texas Youth Depression and Suicide Research Network (TX-YDSRN) was developed with the goal of evaluating screening and measurement-based care in Texas youth with depression or suicidality (i.e., suicidal ideation and/or suicidal behavior). The SRMP was developed for TX-YDSRN through a collaborative, iterative process, consistent with a Learning Healthcare System model. Results: The final SMRP included training, educational resources for research staff, educational resources for research participants, risk assessment and management strategies, and clinical and research oversight. Conclusion: The TX-YDSRN SRMP is one methodology for addressing youth participant suicide risk. The development and testing of standard methodologies with a focus on participant safety is an important next step to further the field of suicide prevention research.

Depression screening and treatment among uninsured populations in Primary Care.

Uninsured populations have poor treatment engagement and are less likely to receive evidence-based interventions for depression. The objective of the current study was to retrospectively examine depression screening, diagnosis, and treatment patterns among uninsured patients in primary care. Study sample included all patients (N = 11,803) seen in nine community-based clinics. Key variables included depression screener and/or a depression diagnosis, anti-depressant initiation, behavioral health visits, and patient follow up measures. Treatment patterns from the subsample of patients diagnosed with depression were analyzed by collecting the number of behavioral health visits and antidepressant use six months (180 days) following the diagnosis. Utilization of the depression screening tool was high (67%, n = 7,935) and 24% (n = 2,789) of the patients had a diagnosis of depression, however, more than half of the patients with a depression diagnosis did not have a recorded treatment plan (n = 1,474). The odds of anti-depressant use and behavioral visits for Hispanic patients were significantly greater than for Non-Hispanic patients. Universal screening with brief measures in primary care is improving, however, guideline-concordant depression treatment remains elusive for uninsured populations.

Poblaciones sin seguro médico tienen un compromiso deficiente con el tratamiento médico y menos probabilidad de recibir intervenciones basadas en evidencia para la depresión. El objetivo fue examinar retrospectivamente detección, diagnóstico y tratamiento de depresión entre pacientes sin seguro médico en Atención Primaria. Se incluyó a pacientes (N = 11.803) atendidos en nueve clínicas comunitarias. Las variables fueron detección de depresión y/o diagnóstico de depresión, inicio del consumo de antidepresivos, visitas al proveedor de salud mental y medidas de seguimiento. Los planes de tratamiento de una submuestra de pacientes con depresión se analizaron mediante la recopilación del número de visitas a salud mental y uso de antidepresivos durante seis meses después del diagnóstico. La utilización de la herramienta de detección de depresión fue alta (67%, n = 7.935) y 24% (n = 2.789) en pacientes diagnosticados de depresión. Más de la mitad de los pacientes no tenían plan de tratamiento registrado (n = 1.474). Las probabilidades de uso de antidepresivos y visitas a proveedores de salud mental para pacientes hispanos fueron mayores que para pacientes no hispanos. La detección universal con medidas breves en Atención Primaria está mejorando, pero el tratamiento de la depresión sigue siendo difícil de alcanzar para poblaciones sin seguro.

Hispanic participants in the National Institute on Drug Abuse's Clinical Trials Network: A scoping review of two decades of research.

INTRODUCTION: Hispanics significantly underutilize substance abuse treatment and are at greater risk for poor treatment outcomes and dropout. Two decades of research from the National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network (CTN) offers an opportunity to increase our understanding in how to address the disparities experienced by Hispanics in substance abuse treatment. METHODS: A scoping review was utilized to determine what has been learned from the CTN about Hispanic populations with substance use disorder. A systematic search was conducted within the CTN Dissemination Library and nine databases. Potentially relevant studies were independently assessed by two reviewers for inclusion. RESULTS: Twenty-four studies were included in the review. Results identified issues in measurement, characteristics of Hispanic substance use, effective interventions, and gaps for future research. Characteristics that interfere with treatment participation were also identified including low employment rates, less likelihood of having insurance, lower rates of internet access, and increased travel time to services, as were treatment issues such as high rates of alcohol and tobacco use. Effective interventions were identified; however, the effectiveness of these interventions may be limited to specific factors. CONCLUSIONS: Despite efforts to improve inclusion of minority populations, Hispanics remain underrepresented in clinical trials. Future research including Hispanic populations should examine measurement equivalence and consider how cultural and historical experiences, as well as patient characteristics, influence utilization of services. Finally, more studies are needed that examine the impact of structural factors that act as barriers to treatment access and engagement and result in significant disparities in treatment outcomes.