ABSTRACT
The Mental Health Assessment and Dynamic Referral for Oncology (MHADRO) is a program that conducts a computerized assessment of physical, psychological, and social functioning related to oncology treatment, prints personalized summary reports for both the patient and the provider, and for those who provide consent, faxes a referral and assessment summary report to a matched mental health treatment provider (i.e., dynamic referral). The functionality, feasibility, and end user satisfaction of the MHADRO were tested in a comprehensive care center. Of the 101 participants enrolled, 61 (60%) exhibited elevated distress on at least one of the mental health indices, and, of these, 12 (20%) chose a dynamic referral for mental health services. Patients and health care providers exhibited high levels of satisfaction with the program. The MHADRO has potential for assisting in meeting the psychosocial needs faced by individuals with cancer and should be tested further for its facilitation of mental health treatment initiation.
Subject(s)
Adaptation, Psychological , Mental Health , Neoplasms/psychology , Patient Satisfaction , Referral and Consultation , Stress, Psychological/psychology , Feasibility Studies , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Neoplasms/complications , Neoplasms/therapy , Program Evaluation/methods , Social Behavior , Stress, Psychological/etiologyABSTRACT
Patients diagnosed with CHF have disproportionately high rates of depression. Research has demonstrated significant consequences of depression in patients with CHF including poor quality of life, worse medical adherence and increased health complications, health care utilization, and medical costs. Despite these consequences, the treatment of depression in patients with CHF has not been widely explored. In fact, a review of the literature demonstrates a clear gap when it comes to efficacious treatments of depression in patients afflicted with CHF. The present article introduces the empirically supported therapy 'cognitive behavioral therapy' (CBT) and provides information about the literature supporting the use of CBT in depressed patients. Finally, the present authors offer some practical suggestions for healthcare providers treating depressed patients with CHF.
