Initiation of Primary Care-Mental Health Integration programs in the VA Health System: associations with psychiatric diagnoses in primary care.
BACKGROUND
Providing collaborative mental health treatment within primary care settings improves depression outcomes and may improve detection of mental disorders. Few studies have assessed the effect of collaborative mental health treatment programs on diagnosis of mental disorders in primary care populations. In 2008, many Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities implemented collaborative care programs, as part of the VA's Primary Care-Mental Health Integration (PC-MHI) program.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the prevalence of diagnosed mental health conditions among primary care patient populations in association with PC-MHI programs, overall and for patient subpopulations that may be less likely to receive mental health treatment.


METHODS
Using a difference-in-differences analysis, we evaluated whether the rates of psychiatric diagnoses among primary care patient populations at 294 VA facilities changed from fiscal year (FY)07 to FY08, and whether trends differed at facilities with PC-MHI encounters in FY08. Subgroup analyses examined whether trends differed by patient age and race/ethnicity. SUBJECTS, MEASURES, AND RESULTS: From FY07 to FY08, the prevalence of diagnosed depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and alcohol abuse increased more in the 137 facilities with PC-MHI program encounters than in the 157 facilities without these encounters. Increases were more likely among patients who were younger (18-64) and white.


CONCLUSIONS
Initiation of PC-MHI programs was associated with elevated diagnosis patterns, which may enhance recognition of mental health needs among primary care patients. Increases in diagnosis prevalence were not uniform across patient subgroups. Further research is needed on treatment processes and outcomes for individuals receiving services in PC-MHI programs.
Zivin
Kara
K
Department of Veterans Affairs, National Serious Mental Illness Treatment Research and Evaluation Center and Health Services Research and Development (HSR&D) Center for Clinical Management Research, Ann Arbor, MI, USA. kzivin@umich.edu
Pfeiffer
Paul N
PN
Szymanski
Benjamin R
BR
Valenstein
Marcia
M
Post
Edward P
EP
Miller
Erin M
EM
McCarthy
John F
JF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016208:Databases, Factual; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008605:Mental Health Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs; D055815:Young Adult