title: Engagement in mental health treatment following primary care mental health integration contact.
abstract: Although the majority of mental health conditions are treated in primary care, treatment provided in this setting is often inadequate. In response to this problem, integrated mental health programs were created to enhance direct patient care and increase support for primary care providers. Data on the efficacy of these programs have suggested improved access, treatment outcomes, and patient satisfaction. However, infrequently examined is how interaction with integrated mental health providers impacts completion of referrals to specialty mental health (SMH) programs for patients whose treatment needs are too severe to treat in primary care alone. The current study examined referral acceptance rates among a veteran population at a large Midwest Veterans Affairs (VA) medical center. Results found that completion rates to SMH following integrated mental health contact (87.1%) were higher than published comparisons (32% in 1 study). It was found that a large proportion of these veterans maintained continued attendance to SMH treatment at 1- and 6-month follow-up (88.9% and 71.9%, respectively). Finally, data also suggest that only a small amount of contact (5 or more minutes) was needed to significantly increase the likelihood of SMH referral success but was not related to improved continued attendance in treatment at follow-up intervals. Clinical implications and suggestions for future research are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital.
authors.forename: Matthew J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Minneapolis VA Health Care System.
authors.forename: Kelly M
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5979-9097
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Meyers
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital.
authors.forename: Jamie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mathews
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Edward Hines, Jr. VA Hospital.
authors.forename: Erin O
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Zerth
mesh_terms: D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015146:Midwestern United States; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States; D014493:United States Department of Veterans Affairs / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*