Chlamydia and Gonorrhea Testing Patterns Among Women with and Without Serious Mental Illness.

Rates of the sexually transmitted infections (STIs) Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) have risen in women by 13% and 40%, respectively, since 2015. Women with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) are at disproportionate risk for STIs. A retrospective chart review was performed at a safety-net healthcare system in the Southeastern United States (US) from 2014 to 2017. CT/GC positivity rates did not differ between the general and SMI populations (6.6% vs. 6.5% for CT and 1.8% vs. 2.2% for GC, respectively). Emergency Medicine accounted for more positive STI test results in SMI patients than the general population (25.2% vs. 19.1% for CT, 47.8% vs. 35.5% for GC, respectively). SMI patients received large portions of STI care in emergency settings, where follow-up is poor. Point of Care (POC) testing could improve care in this setting, and mental healthcare providers must address sexual health with patients who otherwise may not receive this care.

Reverse Integration Pilot in a Public Safety-Net Hospital's Outpatient Behavioral Health Clinic.

Individuals with severe mental illness are at a higher risk for medical illness and premature death and yet receive poorer quality healthcare. Often mental healthcare is the only care this population receives, thus models of integration are being explored. This study examined medical outcomes and care utilization patterns among patients at an outpatient behavioral health center where primary care was integrated with psychiatric and behavioral healthcare. A retrospective chart review of patients seen at the clinic both for mental and primary healthcare was performed and 147 patients were monitored over the course of one year. While medical outcome changes were not significant in the year after enrollment, primary care visits did increase, and emergency department visits decreased over the year analyzed. Decreased emergency department visits and increased attendance at primary care visits suggests this model of integration allows patients access to continuity of care and primary care services.

Flattening the emotional distress curve: A behavioral health pandemic response strategy for COVID-19.

This article proposes a framework for managing the behavioral health impacts of the COVID-19 global pandemic. This framework aligns and should be integrated with an existing public health pandemic intervals model. It includes six phases of a behavioral health pandemic response strategy: preplanning, response readiness, response mobilization, intervention, continuation, and amelioration. The ways behavioral health specialists can capitalize on their competence in the leadership, prevention, education, service, research, and advocacy domains within each behavioral health pandemic response phase are articulated. Behavioral health expertise can help ensure a more comprehensive, effective pandemic response that facilitates the flattening of the curve of disease spread, along with the corresponding emotional distress curve. A case illustration, the Caring Communities (CC) initiative, is offered as an exemplar of action steps in the leadership, prevention, education, service, research, and advocacy domains that behavioral health professionals can take within each of the behavioral health pandemic response phases. Key CC action steps include providing support groups, offering virtual wellness breaks, participating in educational outreach, creating and disseminating wellness guides, launching and leading a virtual behavioral health clinic for health care staff, participating in behavioral health research and program evaluation, and engaging in advocacy initiatives aimed at improving behavioral health care and addressing and reducing health disparities. Finally, recommendations for optimizing behavioral health contributions to future pandemic responses are proffered. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

Navigating a Complex Health System: the Perceptions of Psychiatric Residents in Addressing Sexual and Reproductive Health of Women with Severe Mental Illness.

OBJECTIVE: This study's purpose was to examine attitudes and perceptions of resident psychiatrists regarding the sexual and reproductive health needs of their female patients with severe mental illness. The three aims were to investigate resident psychiatrists' (1) perceptions regarding the importance of providing sexual and reproductive health services to female patients in the outpatient behavioral health setting, (2) current engagement in providing sexual and reproductive health services to their female patients, and (3) perceived barriers and facilitators to addressing sexual and reproductive health in this vulnerable patient population. METHODS: Fifteen resident psychiatrists were recruited from the behavioral health clinic at a safety-net public sector hospital for a structured interview. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and then coded using MAXQDA© software. RESULTS: Resident psychiatrists recognized the importance of addressing sexual and reproductive health with their female patients and recognized their hypothetical ability to provide sexual and reproductive health counseling and services based on their training and resources. However, residents reported rarely providing these services, mostly addressing sexual and reproductive health only when necessitated by medication changes. Perceived barriers included lack of training or knowledge, discomfort, and limited appointment time. CONCLUSIONS: Resident psychiatrists perceive a need to address sexual and reproductive health with their female patients with serious mental illness but lack the confidence and resources to do so. Directed education and clear institutional guidelines are necessary to equip the next generation of psychiatrists with the tools needed to address the sexual and reproductive health needs of women with serious mental illness.

Psychiatry's Role in Improving the Physical Health of Patients With Serious Mental Illness: A Report From the American Psychiatric Association.

The American Psychiatric Association Integrated Care Workgroup recently convened an expert panel charged with addressing the role of psychiatry in improving the physical health of persons with serious mental illness. The group reviewed the peer-reviewed and gray literature and developed a set of recommendations grounded in this review. This column summarizes the panel's primary findings and recommendations to key stakeholders, including clinicians, health care organizations, researchers, and policy makers.

Medicaid Expenditures for Fee-for-Service Enrollees with Behavioral Diagnoses: Findings from a 50 State Claims Analysis.

Medicaid is an important funder of care for individuals with behavioral (psychiatric and/or substance use) diagnoses, and expenditures will likely increase with expansion of services under the Affordable Care Act. This study provides national estimates of Medicaid expenditures using a comprehensive sample of fee-for-service Medicaid enrollees with behavioral diagnoses. Data for analysis came from 2003 to 2004 Medicaid Analytic eXtract (MAX) files for 50 states and the District of Columbia. Individuals with behavioral diagnoses had high rates of chronic medical comorbidities, and expenditures for medical (non-behavioral) diagnoses accounted for 74 % of their health care expenditures. Total Medicaid expenditure was approximately 15 billion dollars (equivalent to 18.91 billion in 2016 dollars) for individuals with any behavioral diagnosis. Medicaid fee-for-service beneficiaries with behavioral diagnoses have a high treated prevalence of individual medical comorbid conditions, and the majority of health care expenditures in these individuals are for medical, rather than behavioral health, services.

Reverse Integration Initiatives for Individuals With Serious Mental Illness.

Medical progress has greatly extended the life span of individuals living in the United States, yet certain groups have lagged behind in achieving wellness and longevity. Prominent among these are individuals with serious mental illness. Because of this, various initiatives have been launched at the community, state, and national level to improve the medical care of those with serious mental illness. Many of these initiatives promote "reverse integration," or the provision of collaborative care services in behavioral health locations. Despite significant barriers to implementation, these initiatives have shown moderate success in improving medical outcomes for those with serious mental illness, in both research and "real-life" settings. Additionally, the role of psychiatrists in addressing physical health has been explored, and there is a need for educational opportunities to optimize competency in this area. Overall, work still needs to be done before the mortality gap for those with serious mental illness dissipates.

Randomized Trial of an Integrated Behavioral Health Home: The Health Outcomes Management and Evaluation (HOME) Study.

OBJECTIVE: Behavioral health homes provide primary care health services to patients with serious mental illness treated in community mental health settings. The objective of this study was to compare quality and outcomes of care between an integrated behavioral health home and usual care. METHOD: The study was a randomized trial of a behavioral health home developed as a partnership between a community mental health center and a Federally Qualified Health Center. A total of 447 patients with a serious mental illness and one or more cardiometabolic risk factors were randomly assigned to either the behavioral health home or usual care for 12 months. Participants in the behavioral health home received integrated medical care on-site from a nurse practitioner and a full-time nurse care manager subcontracted through the health center. RESULTS: Compared with usual care, the behavioral health home was associated with significant improvements in quality of cardiometabolic care, concordance of treatment with the chronic care model, and use of preventive services. For most cardiometabolic and general medical outcomes, both groups demonstrated improvement, although there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups over time. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that it is possible, even under challenging real-world conditions, to improve quality of care for patients with serious mental illness and cardiovascular risk factors. Improving quality of medical care may be necessary, but not sufficient, to improve the full range of medical outcomes in this vulnerable population.

A meta-review of lifestyle interventions for cardiovascular risk factors in the general medical population: lessons for individuals with serious mental illness.

OBJECTIVE: Individuals with serious mental illness die years younger than members of the general population, with cardiovascular disease and related risk factors accounting for the majority of deaths. Lifestyle interventions targeting these risk factors have begun to be developed for those with serious mental illness, but they have largely been created de novo rather than with information from work already done in the general population. This review aims to synthesize for a mental health audience the common factors for success in nonpharmacologic lifestyle interventions and identify specific considerations in adapting these models for those with serious mental illness. DATA SOURCES: We searched the PubMed and Cochrane databases for English-language reviews from 2003 to 2013. The search employed combinations of the following terms: diabetes, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, dyslipidemia, obesity, mental illness, schizophrenia, psychosis, bipolar disorder, lifestyle intervention, non-pharmacologic intervention, lifestyle modification, and weight gain. STUDY SELECTION: We identified 8,147 review articles from the PubMed and Cochrane databases. 123 articles were selected. The selected articles were reviews of dietary, behavioral, or exercise interventions that focused on obesity and related cardiometabolic risk factors. DATA EXTRACTION: We undertook a qualitative "review of reviews" focusing on nonpharmacologic interventions for obesity and related cardiometabolic risk factors. RESULTS: Effects of interventions in the general population were meaningful but generally modest. Specific elements of diet, exercise, and behavioral therapy produced larger effects. Additionally, successful programs employed multiple components, personalization, longer duration, more frequent contact, and trained treatment providers. Interventions addressing these risk factors in people with serious mental illness typically incorporated some, but not all, of the elements demonstrated to be effective in general medical populations. CONCLUSIONS: Studies from the general medical literature demonstrate considerable promise in addressing lifestyle risk factors. Existing programs will require tailoring to address the needs of those with serious mental illness and may be harder to implement given the challenges faced by this population. However, successful lifestyle interventions for those with serious mental illness can make a significant impact on the health and well-being of this vulnerable population and may inform future strategies for other underserved groups.