title: Mental health screening at temporary military health clinics in low income Hispanic communities within the Rio Grande Valley of Texas.
abstract: Behavioral and mental health problems are not always considered in temporary medical clinics nor are instruments readily available to provide medical practitioners in these settings with information relevant to mental health conditions. This study provided preliminary data on the utility of the Mini Mental Screen in temporary military medical clinics in the Texas Rio Grande Valley. This instrument was administered to individuals who may have behavioral or mental health problems. In a sample of mostly Hispanic patients (N = 75) seen at a temporary medical clinic, 12% were at significant risk of mental health problems, with an additional 9% at moderate risk using published cut-off scores for the risk of such problems. The results for each patient were provided to a medical practitioner who further evaluated the risk, treated the problem, or made a referral. When asked, three of four medical practitioners found that screening data was helpful in their work with patients. One practitioner was concerned that the screening instrument might have too high a false positive rate to be useful. Cultural issues of openness about mental health and behavioral problems need to be considered in such settings.
authors.affiliation: Houston Community College, Texas, USA. rmorecook@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Morecook
authors.forename: James L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Greenstone
authors.forename: J Ray
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Hays
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D058749:Military Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019303:Multilingualism; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011204:Poverty Areas; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013781:Texas