TY - JOUR
AU - P. V. Chen
AU - H. Singh
AU - N. E. Hundt
AU - M. E. Kunik
AU - M. A. Stanley
AU - M. Plasencia
AU - T. L. Fletcher
A1 - 
AB - Up to 33% of American adults will experience a diagnosable anxiety disorder in their lifetime. Approximately one-third of anxiety diagnoses assigned by mental health providers in outpatient settings are unspecified. The tendency of many providers to use an unspecified anxiety diagnosis may negatively impact the provision of evidence-based treatments for specific anxiety disorders. This study examines the perspectives of mental health providers working in an integrated and stepped health care system, asking how their roles and responsibilities shape their practices related to diagnosing specific anxiety disorders. The authors conducted semi-structured interviews with 32 Veteran Health Administration (VHA) mental health providers to understand their perspectives on diagnosing anxiety disorders. Matrix analysis was used to identify different roles and responsibilities articulated. Thematic analysis was used to highlight themes across providers' discussion of their roles in diagnosing and treating patients. The results show that, for most providers, assigning a specific diagnosis is a component of duties but rarely their focus. Second, it is unclear in which clinic setting a specific anxiety diagnosis should be made. Finally, among different types of mental health professionals, there is no clear designation on who should be providing a specific anxiety diagnosis. Altogether, results indicate that many providers feel making a specific diagnosis for anxiety is the responsibility of others-either those in other clinic settings or with other credentials. Findings call for clearer guidelines that specify individual clinician accountability for obtaining a specific anxiety diagnosis in a team-based environment.
AD - Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness, and Safety, 2450 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77021, USA. patricic@bcm.edu.; Section of Health Services Research, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA. patricic@bcm.edu.; Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness, and Safety, 2450 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77021, USA.; Section of Health Services Research, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.; Menninger Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Services, Baylor College of Medicine, 1977 Butler Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.; South Central Mental Illness Research, Education and Clinical Center, 2002 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
AN - 39298068
BT - J Behav Health Serv Res
C5 - Education & Workforce
CP - 3
DA - Jul
DO - 10.1007/s11414-024-09909-z
DP - NLM
ET - 20240919
IS - 3
JF - J Behav Health Serv Res
LA - eng
N2 - Up to 33% of American adults will experience a diagnosable anxiety disorder in their lifetime. Approximately one-third of anxiety diagnoses assigned by mental health providers in outpatient settings are unspecified. The tendency of many providers to use an unspecified anxiety diagnosis may negatively impact the provision of evidence-based treatments for specific anxiety disorders. This study examines the perspectives of mental health providers working in an integrated and stepped health care system, asking how their roles and responsibilities shape their practices related to diagnosing specific anxiety disorders. The authors conducted semi-structured interviews with 32 Veteran Health Administration (VHA) mental health providers to understand their perspectives on diagnosing anxiety disorders. Matrix analysis was used to identify different roles and responsibilities articulated. Thematic analysis was used to highlight themes across providers' discussion of their roles in diagnosing and treating patients. The results show that, for most providers, assigning a specific diagnosis is a component of duties but rarely their focus. Second, it is unclear in which clinic setting a specific anxiety diagnosis should be made. Finally, among different types of mental health professionals, there is no clear designation on who should be providing a specific anxiety diagnosis. Altogether, results indicate that many providers feel making a specific diagnosis for anxiety is the responsibility of others-either those in other clinic settings or with other credentials. Findings call for clearer guidelines that specify individual clinician accountability for obtaining a specific anxiety diagnosis in a team-based environment.
PY - 2025
SN - 1094-3412
SP - 391
EP - 407+
ST - Whose Job is it Anyway? A Qualitative Study of Providers' Perspectives on Diagnosing Anxiety Disorders in Integrated Health Settings
T1 - Whose Job is it Anyway? A Qualitative Study of Providers' Perspectives on Diagnosing Anxiety Disorders in Integrated Health Settings
T2 - J Behav Health Serv Res
TI - Whose Job is it Anyway? A Qualitative Study of Providers' Perspectives on Diagnosing Anxiety Disorders in Integrated Health Settings
U1 - Education & Workforce
U3 - 10.1007/s11414-024-09909-z
VL - 52
VO - 1094-3412
Y1 - 2025
ER -