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2.
Telemed J E Health ; 30(4): e1049-e1063, 2024 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38011623

ABSTRACT

Background: Asynchronous telepsychiatry (ATP) consultations are a novel form of psychiatric consultation. Studies comparing patient and provider satisfaction for ATP with that for synchronous telepsychiatry (STP) do not exist. Methods: This mixed-methods study is a secondary analysis of patients' and primary care providers' (PCPs) satisfaction from a randomized clinical trial of ATP compared with STP. Patients and their PCPs completed satisfaction surveys, and provided unstructured feedback about their experiences with either ATP or STP. Differences in patient satisfaction were assessed using mixed-effects logistic regression models, and the qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis with an inductive coding framework. Results: Patient satisfaction overall was high with 84% and 97% of respondents at 6 months reported being somewhat or completely satisfied with ATP and STP, respectively. Patients in the STP group were more likely to report being completely satisfied, to recommend the program to a friend, and to report being comfortable with their care compared with ATP (all p < 0.05). However, there was no difference between the patients in ATP and STP in perceived change in clinical outcomes (p = 0.51). The PCP quantitative data were small, and thus only summarized descriptively. Conclusions: Patients expressed their overall satisfaction with both STP and ATP. Patients in ATP reported more concerns about the process, likely because feedback after ATP was slower than that after STP consultations. PCPs had no apparent preference for STP or ATP, and reported implementing the psychiatrists' recommendations for both groups when such recommendations were made, which supports our previous findings. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02084979; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02084979.


Subject(s)
Psychiatry , Telemedicine , Humans , Patient Satisfaction , Personal Satisfaction , Primary Health Care , Adenosine Triphosphate
3.
Adm Policy Ment Health ; 50(6): 926-935, 2023 11.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37598371

ABSTRACT

Primary care providers (PCPs) are increasingly called upon to screen for and treat depression. However, PCPs often lack the training to diagnose and treat depression. We designed an innovative 12-month evidence and mentorship-based primary care psychiatric training program entitled the University of California, Irvine (UCI) School of Medicine Train New Trainers Primary Care Psychiatry (TNT PCP) Fellowship and examined whether this training impacted clinician prescription rates for antidepressants. We retrieved information on 18,844 patients and 192 PCPs from a publicly insured health program in Southern California receiving care between 2017 and 2021. Of the 192 PCPs, 42 received TNT training and 150 did not. We considered a patient as exposed to the provider's TNT treatment if they received care from a provider after the provider completed the 1-year fellowship. We utilized the number of antidepressant prescriptions per patient, per quarter-year as the dependent variable. Linear regression models controlled for provider characteristics and time trends. Robustness checks included clustering patients by provider identification. After PCPs completed TNT training, "exposed" patients received 0.154 more antidepressant prescriptions per quarter-year relative to expected levels (p < 0.01). Clustering of standard errors by provider characteristics reduced precision of the estimate (p < 0.10) but the direction and magnitude of the results were unchanged. Early results from the UCI TNT PCP Fellowship demonstrate enhanced antidepressant prescription behavior in PCPs who have undergone TNT training. A novel, and relatively low-cost, clinician training program holds the potential to empower PCPs to optimally deliver depression treatment.


Subject(s)
Primary Health Care , Psychiatry , Humans , Antidepressive Agents/therapeutic use , Prescriptions , Cluster Analysis
4.
J Contin Educ Health Prof ; 42(2): 105-114, 2022 04 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35439771

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To expand and optimize the behavioral health workforce, it is necessary to improve primary care providers' (PCPs) overall knowledge and clinical skills in primary care-based psychiatry. Studies on the effects of postgraduate psychiatric education programs for PCPs on psychiatric knowledge are limited. METHODS: A total of 251 PCPs completed a 1-year fellowship. Data from program development and evaluation were analyzed for 4 fellowship years (2016-2019). Fellows were surveyed at baseline, midpoint, and postfellowship about mental health stigma, perceived competency, attitudes about psychiatry, satisfaction with current psychiatric knowledge, confidence and comfort to treat psychiatric illnesses, and program satisfaction. Psychiatric knowledge was evaluated at baseline, midpoint, and postfellowship. RESULTS: Large effects were noted on perceived competency/self-efficacy and confidence in the treatment of common psychiatric disorders encountered in primary care settings. Positive effects were observed on attitudes of mental health stigma, and even more robust effects were found with improvement in psychiatry clinical knowledge. Knowledge improved by 12% at postfellowship (P < .0001). Correlations of the degree of change in attitude with improved psychiatric literacy demonstrated significant relationships with reduction of stigma total score (r = -0.2133, P = .0043), increased willingness (r = 0.1941, P = .0096), and increased positive attitudes (r = 0.1894, P = .0111). CONCLUSION: Innovative initiatives to improve and expand psychiatric knowledge and clinical skills among those who provide the most behavioral health care (PCPs) can have marked impacts on attitudes toward mental health care delivery, stigma, and competency/self-efficacy. Future studies are necessary to consider the impact of this program on clinical practice pattern outcomes on a larger scale.


Subject(s)
Mental Disorders , Psychiatry , Attitude of Health Personnel , Fellowships and Scholarships , Humans , Mental Disorders/psychology , Mental Disorders/therapy , Primary Health Care , Psychiatry/education
5.
JMIR Ment Health ; 9(3): e35253, 2022 Mar 31.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35357320

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The epidemiology of mental health disorders has important theoretical and practical implications for health care service and planning. The recent increase in big data storage and subsequent development of analytical tools suggest that mining search databases may yield important trends on mental health, which can be used to support existing population health studies. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to map depression search intent in the United States based on internet-based mental health queries. METHODS: Weekly data on mental health searches were extracted from Google Trends for an 11-year period (2010-2021) and separated by US state for the following terms: "feeling sad," "depressed," "depression," "empty," "insomnia," "fatigue," "guilty," "feeling guilty," and "suicide." Multivariable regression models were created based on geographic and environmental factors and normalized to the following control terms: "sports," "news," "google," "youtube," "facebook," and "netflix." Heat maps of population depression were generated based on search intent. RESULTS: Depression search intent grew 67% from January 2010 to March 2021. Depression search intent showed significant seasonal patterns with peak intensity during winter (adjusted P<.001) and early spring months (adjusted P<.001), relative to summer months. Geographic location correlated with depression search intent with states in the Northeast (adjusted P=.01) having higher search intent than states in the South. CONCLUSIONS: The trends extrapolated from Google Trends successfully correlate with known risk factors for depression, such as seasonality and increasing latitude. These findings suggest that Google Trends may be a valid novel epidemiological tool to map depression prevalence in the United States.

6.
Telemed J E Health ; 28(6): 838-846, 2022 06.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34726542

ABSTRACT

Objective:To compare clinical recommendations given by psychiatrists and the adherence to these recommendations by primary care physicians (PCP) following consultations conducted by asynchronous telepsychiatry (ATP) and synchronous telepsychiatry (STP).Materials and Methods:ATP and STP consultations were compared using intermediate data from a randomized clinical trial with adult participant enrollment between April 2014 and December 2017. In both study arms, PCPs received written recommendations from the psychiatrist after each encounter. Independent clinicians reviewed PCP documentation to measure adherence to those recommendations in the 6 months following the baseline consultation.Results:Medical records were reviewed for 645 psychiatrists' consult recommendations; 344 from 61 ATP consultations and 301 from 62 STP consultations. Of those recommendations, 191 (56%) and 173 (58%) were rated fully adherent by two independent raters for ATP and STP, respectively. In a multilevel ordinal logistic regression model adjusted for recommendation type and recommended implementation timing, there was no statistically significant difference in adherence to recommendations for ATP compared with STP (adjusted odds ratio = 0.91, 95% confidence interval = 0.51-1.62). The profiles of recommendation type were comparable between ATP and STP.Conclusions:This is the first PCP adherence study comparing two forms of telemedicine. Although we did not find evidence of a difference between ATP and STP; this study supports the feasibility and acceptability of ATP and STP for the provision of collaborative psychiatric care. Clinical Trial Identifier NCT02084979.


Subject(s)
Physicians, Primary Care , Psychiatry , Telemedicine , Adenosine Triphosphate , Adult , Humans , Referral and Consultation
7.
J Psychosom Res ; 151: 110654, 2021 12.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34739943

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Hyponatremia is the most common electrolyte imbalance encountered in clinical practice and is associated with negative healthcare outcomes and cost. SIADH is thought to account for one third of all hyponatremia cases and is typically an insidious process. Psychotropic medications are commonly implicated in the etiology of drug induced SIADH. There is limited guidance for clinicians on management of psychotropic-induced SIADH. METHODS: After an extensive review of the existing literature, clinical-educators from the Association of Medicine and Psychiatry developed expert consensus recommendations for management of psychotropic-induced SIADH. A risk score was proposed based on risk factors for SIADH to guide clinical decision-making. RESULTS: SSRIs, SNRIs, antipsychotics, carbamazepine, and oxcarbazepine have moderate to high level of evidence demonstrating their association with SIADH. Evaluation for an avoidance of medications that cause hyponatremia is particularly important. Substitution with medication that is less likely to cause SIADH should be considered when appropriate. We propose an algorithmic approach to monitoring hyponatremia with SIADH and corresponding treatment depending on symptom severity. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed algorithm can help clinicians in determining whether psychotropic medication should be stopped, reduced or substituted where SIADH is suspected with recommendations for sodium (Na+) monitoring. These recommendations preserve a role for clinical judgment in the management of hyponatremia with consideration of the risks and benefits, which may be particularly relevant for complex patients that present with medical and psychiatric comorbidities. Further studies are needed to determine whether baseline and serial Na+ monitoring reduces morbidity and mortality.


Subject(s)
Hyponatremia , Inappropriate ADH Syndrome , Psychiatry , Consensus , Humans , Hyponatremia/chemically induced , Hyponatremia/therapy , Inappropriate ADH Syndrome/chemically induced , Psychotropic Drugs/adverse effects
8.
J Med Internet Res ; 23(6): e17551, 2021 06 17.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34137723

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Lying on the floor for a long period of time has been described as a critical determinant of prognosis following a fall. In addition to fall-related injuries due to the trauma itself, prolonged immobilization on the floor results in a wide range of comorbidities and may double the risk of death in elderly. Thus, reducing the length of Time On the Ground (TOG) in fallers seems crucial in vulnerable individuals with cognitive disorders who cannot get up independently. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the effect of a new technology called SafelyYou Guardian (SYG) on early post-fall care including reduction of Time Until staff Assistance (TUA) and TOG. METHODS: SYG uses continuous video monitoring, artificial intelligence, secure networks, and customized computer applications to detect and notify caregivers about falls in real time while providing immediate access to video footage of falls. The present observational study was conducted in 6 California memory care facilities where SYG was installed in bedrooms of consenting residents and families. Fall events were video recorded over 10 months. During the baseline installation period (November 2017 to December 2017), SYG video captures of falls were not provided on a regular basis to facility staff review. During a second period (January 2018 to April 2018), video captures were delivered to facility staff on a regular weekly basis. During the third period (May 2018 to August 2018), real-time notification (RTN) of any fall was provided to facility staff. Two digital markers (TUA, TOG) were automatically measured and compared between the baseline period (first 2 months) and the RTN period (last 4 months). The total number of falls including those happening outside of the bedroom (such as common areas and bathrooms) was separately reported by facility staff. RESULTS: A total of 436 falls were recorded in 66 participants suffering from Alzheimer disease or related dementias (mean age 87 years; minimum 65, maximum 104 years). Over 80% of the falls happened in bedrooms, with two-thirds occurring overnight (8 PM to 8 AM). While only 8.1% (22/272) of falls were scored as moderate or severe, fallers were not able to stand up alone in 97.6% (247/253) of the cases. Reductions of 28.3 (CI 19.6-37.1) minutes in TUA and 29.6 (CI 20.3-38.9) minutes in TOG were observed between the baseline and RTN periods. The proportion of fallers with TOG >1 hour fell from 31% (8/26; baseline) to zero events (RTN period). During the RTN period, 76.6% (108/141) of fallers received human staff assistance in less than 10 minutes, and 55.3% (78/141) of them spent less than 10 minutes on the ground. CONCLUSIONS: SYG technology is capable of reducing TOG and TUA while efficiently covering the area (bedroom) and time zone (nighttime) that are at highest risk. After 6 months of SYG monitoring, TOG was reduced by a factor of 3. The drastic reduction of TOG is likely to decrease secondary comorbid complications, improve post-fall prognosis, and reduce health care costs.


Subject(s)
Artificial Intelligence , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Humans
9.
J Med Internet Res ; 23(7): e24047, 2021 07 20.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33993104

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Asynchronous telepsychiatry (ATP; delayed-time) consultations are a novel form of psychiatric consultation in primary care settings. Longitudinal studies comparing clinical outcomes for ATP with synchronous telepsychiatry (STP) are lacking. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to determine the effectiveness of ATP in improving clinical outcomes in English- and Spanish-speaking primary care patients compared with STP, the telepsychiatry usual care method. METHODS: Overall, 36 primary care physicians from 3 primary care clinics referred a heterogeneous sample of 401 treatment-seeking adult patients with nonurgent psychiatric disorders. A total of 184 (94 ATP and 90 STP) English- and Spanish-speaking participants (36/184, 19.6% Hispanic) were enrolled and randomized, and 160 (80 ATP and 80 STP) of them completed baseline evaluations. Patients were treated by their primary care physicians using a collaborative care model in consultation with the University of California Davis Health telepsychiatrists, who consulted with patients every 6 months for up to 2 years using ATP or STP. Primary outcomes (the clinician-rated Clinical Global Impressions [CGI] scale and the Global Assessment of Functioning [GAF]) and secondary outcomes (patients' self-reported physical and mental health and depression) outcomes were assessed every 6 months. RESULTS: For clinician-rated primary outcomes, ATP did not promote greater improvement than STP at 6-month follow-up (ATP vs STP, adjusted difference in follow-up at 6 months vs baseline differences for CGI: 0.2, 95% CI -0.2 to 0.6; P=.28; and GAF: -0.6, 95% CI -3.1 to 1.9; P=.66) or 12-month follow-up (ATP vs STP, adjusted difference in follow-up at 12 months vs baseline differences for CGI: 0.4, 95% CI -0.04 to 0.8; P=.07; and GAF: -0.5, 95% CI -3.3 to 2.2; P=.70), but patients in both arms had statistically and clinically significant improvements in both outcomes. There were no significant differences in improvement from baseline between ATP and STP on any patient self-reported ratings at any follow-up (all P values were between .17 and .96). Dropout rates were higher than predicted but similar between the 2 arms. Of those with baseline visits, 46.8% (75/160) did not have a follow-up at 1 year, and 72.7% (107/147) did not have a follow-up at 2 years. No serious adverse events were associated with the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first longitudinal study to demonstrate that ATP can improve clinical outcomes in English- and Spanish-speaking primary care patients. Although we did not find evidence that ATP is superior to STP in improving clinical outcomes, it is potentially a key part of stepped mental health interventions available in primary care. ATP presents a possible solution to the workforce shortage of psychiatrists and a strategy for improving existing systems of care. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT02084979; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02084979.


Subject(s)
Mental Disorders , Psychiatry , Telemedicine , Adult , Humans , Longitudinal Studies , Primary Health Care
10.
Telemed J E Health ; 27(9): 982-988, 2021 09.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33434453

ABSTRACT

Objective: Asynchronous telepsychiatry (ATP) is an integrative model of behavioral health service delivery that is applicable in a variety of settings and populations, particularly consultation in primary care. This article outlines the development of a training model for ATP clinician skills. Methods: Clinical and procedural training for ATP clinicians (n = 5) was provided by master's-level, clinical mental health providers developed by three experienced telepsychiatrists (P.Y. D.H., and J.S) and supervised by a tele-psychiatrist (PY, GX, DL) through seminar, case supervision, and case discussions. A training manual and one-on-one sessions were employed for initial training. Unstructured expert discussion and feedback sessions were conducted in the training phase of the study in year 1 and annually thereafter over the remaining 4 years of the study. The notes gathered during those sessions were synthesized into themes to gain a summary of the study telepsychiatrist training recommendations for ATP interviewers. Results: Expert feedback and discussion revealed three overarching themes of recommended skill sets for ATP interviewers: (1) comprehensive skills in brief psychiatric interviewing, (2) adequate knowledge base of behavioral health conditions and therapeutic techniques, and (3) clinical documentation, integrated care/consultation practices, and e-competency skill sets. The model of training and skill requirements from expert feedback sessions included these three skill sets. Technology training recommendations were also identified and included: (1) awareness of privacy/confidentiality for electronic data gathering, storage, management, and sharing; (2) technology troubleshooting; and (3) video filming/retrieval. Conclusions: We describe and provide a suggested training model for the use of ATP integrated behavioral health. The training needs for ATP clinicians were assessed on a limited convenience sample of experts and clinicians, and more rigorous studies of training for ATP and other technology-focused, behavioral health services are needed. Clinical Trials number: NCT03538860.


Subject(s)
Psychiatry , Telemedicine , Humans , Primary Health Care , Referral and Consultation , Technology
11.
Telemed J E Health ; 27(4): 356-373, 2021 04.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32412882

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Research is increasing on asynchronous technologies used by specialist clinicians and primary care, including e-mail, text, e-consultation, and store-and-forward (asynchronous) options. Studies typically describe interventions and care outcomes rather than development of clinical skills for using technology. Methods: This article attempts to compare clinicians' approaches to, and skills for, asynchronous technologies versus in-person and synchronous (i.e., video) care. Literature from technology, health care, pedagogy, and business were searched from 2000 to 2019 for title words, including synchronous (e.g., video, telemental or behavioral health, telepsychiatry), asynchronous (e.g., app, e-consultation, e-mail, text, sensor in a wearable device), education, clinical, and consultation. Results: From a total of 4,812 potential references, two authors (D.M.H., J.T.) found 4,622 eligible for full text review and found 381 articles directly relevant to the concept areas in combination for full text review. However, exclusion criteria subtracted 305, leaving a total of 76 articles. While in-person and synchronous care are similar in many ways, the clinical approach to asynchronous care has many differences. As asynchronous technologies and models of care are feasible and effective, often for consultation, an outline of patient, primary care provider, and specialist clinician goals and skills are presented. Few studies specifically discuss skills or competencies for asynchronous care, but components from published clinical informatics, video, social media, and mobile health competencies were organized into Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education domains. Conclusions: Further implementation of science research is needed for asynchronous technology interventions, as well as clinician competencies using asynchronous technologies, to ensure optimal outcomes for patients in health care.


Subject(s)
Psychiatry , Telemedicine , Clinical Competence , Delivery of Health Care , Education, Medical, Graduate , Humans
12.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33166098

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To report the clinical characteristics and transmission rate of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in a community inpatient long-term care psychiatric rehabilitation facility designed for persons with serious mental illness to provide insight into transmission and symptom patterns and emerging testing protocols, as well as medical complications and prognosis. METHODS: This study examined a cohort of 54 residents of a long-term care psychiatric rehabilitation program from March to April 2020. Baseline demographics, clinical diagnoses, and vital signs were examined to look for statistical differences between positive versus negative severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2) groups. During the early phase of the pandemic, the facility closely followed the local shelter-in-place order (starting March 19, 2020) and symptom-based testing. RESULTS: Of the residents, the primary psychiatric diagnoses were schizoaffective disorder: 28 (51.9%), schizophrenia: 21 (38.9%), bipolar I disorder: 3 (5.5%), and unspecified psychotic disorder: 2 (3.7%). Forty (74%) of 54 residents tested positive for SARS-COV-2, with a doubling time of 3.9 days. There were no statistical differences between the positive SARS-COV-2 versus negative groups for age or race/ethnicity. Psychiatric and medical conditions were not significantly associated with contracting SARS-COV-2, with the exception of obesity (n = 17 [43%] positive vs n = 12 [86%] negative, P = .01). Medical monitoring of vital signs and symptoms did not lead to earlier detection. All of the residents completely recovered, with the last resident no longer showing any symptoms 24 days from the index case. CONCLUSION: Research is needed to determine optimal strategies for long-term care mental health settings that incorporate frequent testing and personal protective equipment use to prevent rapid transmission of SARS-COV-2.


Subject(s)
Coronavirus Infections/epidemiology , Pneumonia, Viral/epidemiology , Psychotic Disorders/rehabilitation , Rehabilitation Centers , Schizophrenia/rehabilitation , Adult , Black or African American , Asian , Betacoronavirus , Bipolar Disorder/epidemiology , Bipolar Disorder/rehabilitation , COVID-19 , COVID-19 Testing , California/epidemiology , Clinical Laboratory Techniques , Comorbidity , Coronavirus Infections/diagnosis , Coronavirus Infections/physiopathology , Coronavirus Infections/transmission , Diabetes Mellitus/epidemiology , Gastroesophageal Reflux/epidemiology , Hispanic or Latino , Humans , Hyperlipidemias/epidemiology , Hypertension/epidemiology , Hypothyroidism/epidemiology , Infection Control , Long-Term Care , Mass Screening , Middle Aged , Obesity/epidemiology , Pandemics , Pneumonia, Viral/diagnosis , Pneumonia, Viral/physiopathology , Pneumonia, Viral/transmission , Psychiatric Rehabilitation , Psychotherapy, Group , Psychotic Disorders/epidemiology , Recreation , Rehabilitation, Vocational , SARS-CoV-2 , Schizophrenia/epidemiology , Smoking/epidemiology , Visitors to Patients , White People
13.
J Psychosom Res ; 135: 110138, 2020 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32442893

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Several psychiatric medications have the potential to prolong the QTc interval and subsequently increase the risk for ventricular arrhythmias such as torsades de pointes (TdP). There is limited guidance for clinicians to balance the risks and benefits of treatments. METHODS: After a review of the existing literature, clinical-educators from the Association of Medicine and Psychiatry developed expert consensus guidelines for ECG monitoring of the QTc interval for patients with medical and psychiatric comorbidities who are prescribed medications with the potential to prolong the QTc interval. A risk score was developed based on risk factors for QTc prolongation to guide clinical decision-making. RESULTS: A baseline ECG may not be necessary for individuals at low risk for arrythmia. Those individuals with a risk score of two or more should have an ECG prior to the start of a potentially QTc-prolonging medication or be started on a lower risk agent. Antipsychotics are not equivalent in causing QTc prolongation. A consensus-based algorithm is presented for the management of those identified at high (QTc >500 msec), intermediate (males with QTc 450-499 msec or females with QTc > 470-499 msec), or low risk. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed algorithm can help clinicians in determining whether ECG monitoring should be considered for a given patient. These guidelines preserve a role for clinical judgment in selection of treatments that balance the risks and benefits, which may be particularly relevant for complex patients with medical and psychiatric comorbidities. Additional studies are needed to determine whether baseline and serial ECG monitoring reduces mortality.


Subject(s)
Consensus , Electrocardiography , Societies, Medical , Adult , Antipsychotic Agents/adverse effects , Arrhythmias, Cardiac , Comorbidity , Female , Humans , Long QT Syndrome/chemically induced , Long QT Syndrome/diagnosis , Long QT Syndrome/epidemiology , Male , Middle Aged , Psychiatry , Risk Factors , Torsades de Pointes/chemically induced , Torsades de Pointes/diagnosis , Torsades de Pointes/epidemiology
16.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29570968

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To examine family caregiver perspectives on cooperative communication surrounding pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic resources for the treatment of dementia-related behavioral symptoms. METHODS: Personal narrative interviews were conducted by the primary investigator with 13 family caregivers from October 2014 to April 2015. The recorded interviews were then transcribed and coded. Models detailing the caregivers' resource utilization in regard to behavioral symptom management were produced for each participant and then summarized on the basis of recurring themes. RESULTS: There is a significant gap in the coordination and communication between physician services and caregiver community resources to aid in the behavioral management of family members with dementia. Physicians tend to rely on pharmacologic management independent of community resources and did not seem to be integrated or involved with recommendations from community resources. CONCLUSIONS: Better integration of caregiver resources is necessary to help caregivers in the management of dementia-related behavioral symptoms.


Subject(s)
Caregivers/psychology , Communication , Community Health Services , Dementia/therapy , Disease Management , Family/psychology , Aged , Behavioral Symptoms/therapy , Community Health Services/statistics & numerical data , Female , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Humans , Interviews as Topic , Male , Middle Aged , Practice Patterns, Physicians' , Psychotropic Drugs/therapeutic use
17.
Telemed J E Health ; 24(5): 375-378, 2018 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29024612

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Integrated behavioral healthcare models typically involve a range of consultation options for mental healthcare. Asynchronous telepsychiatry (ATP) consults may be an additional potential choice, so we are conducting a 5-year clinical trial comparing ATP with synchronous telepsychiatry (STP) consultations. METHODS: Patients referred by primary care providers are randomly assigned to one of the two treatment groups, ATP or STP. Clinical outcome, satisfaction, and economic data are being collected from patients for 2 years at 6-month intervals. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics for the first 158 patients and case examples of ATP are presented. CONCLUSION: Implementing ATP in existing integrated behavioral healthcare models could make mental healthcare more efficient.


Subject(s)
Mental Disorders/therapy , Psychiatry/organization & administration , Research Design , Telemedicine/organization & administration , Adult , Aged , Costs and Cost Analysis , Humans , Middle Aged , Patient Satisfaction , Primary Health Care/organization & administration , Referral and Consultation/organization & administration , Socioeconomic Factors , Treatment Outcome
19.
Gen Hosp Psychiatry ; 46: 32-37, 2017 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28622812

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The haematological and cardiac complications of clozapine have been well documented. Recent evidence from pharmacovigilance databases suggests that gastrointestinal (GI) complications are the leading cause of clozapine related deaths. This review aims to describe clinical features along with preventative and treatment options. METHOD: A review of MEDLINE via PubMed searching for all articles published up to February of 2016. Inclusion criteria were articles that provided clinical or epidemiological information relating to the diagnosis, outcome, management or pathophysiology of clozapine related gastrointestinal disorders in humans. RESULTS: Three large case series were identified with 104 cases, 20 of these reported clinical details. A further 52 cases reports were included. Median age was 40, with 79% being male, mean daily clozapine dose was 453 mg. Mortality was 38% with survivors being younger (39 vs. 42), on lower daily doses (400 mg vs. 532 mg), more likely to be female (32% vs. 6%). Four patients were re-challenged with clozapine following CIGH, two suffered a recurrence. CONCLUSION: Risk factors for CIGH appear to be older age, male gender, patients in the first four months of treatment, co-prescription of constipating agents, higher daily dose of clozapine, and previous CIGH. Risk factors for death were older age and male gender. Patients receiving clozapine should be counselled about the dangers of constipation and to report new GI symptoms. Once severe CIGH has occurred clozapine should be halted and reviewed with bowel symptoms managed promptly. Re-challenging with clozapine may present substantial risks due to the severity of CIGH and a paucity of evidence. From the available evidence a treatment strategy has been proposed. Further prospective data regarding CIGH are needed to allow a better assessment of the scale of the problem with the development and testing of treatment strategies.


Subject(s)
Antipsychotic Agents/adverse effects , Clozapine/adverse effects , Gastrointestinal Diseases/chemically induced , Gastrointestinal Motility/drug effects , Adult , Female , Gastrointestinal Diseases/mortality , Humans , Male , Middle Aged
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