Literature Collection

Utilization of telehealth modalities to provide cognitive and behavioral therapies is rapidly increasing. Limitations to access to care can prohibit individuals from getting the care they need, especially evidence-based treatments. In the U.S., Veterans are a population in great need of accessible and high-quality evidence-based psychotherapy for insomnia, as it often co-occurs with other common syndromes such as depression and PTSD. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) offers effective treatment for insomnia and can be delivered via telehealth and in a group format to greatly increase availability and accessibility. To date, however, few programs exist offering telehealth-to-home CBT-I, fewer still are offered in a primary care setting, and none to our knowledge are offered in group format. We examine the feasibility and efficacy of a fully telehealth-to-home (TTH) group CBT-I pilot program in primary care and compare primary outcomes to those seen in a face-to-face (F2F) format as well as meta-analytic studies of group CBT-I. Primary endpoints, as typically defined such as sleep efficiency (SE) and scores on the insomnia severity index (ISI) appear comparable to those seen in F2F groups in our clinic, and to outcomes seen in the literature. We discuss challenges and strategies for successful implementation of such a program in integrated primary care to increase access and availability of this evidence-based treatment.

Addressing socio-demographic differences that affect mental health service encounters is crucial for ethical practice and enhancing therapeutic alliances. Yet discussing personal perceptions of socio-demographic influences within a large healthcare system can be challenging due to discomfort among staff and the need for engagement at both interpersonal and organizational levels. The SITE project sought to intervene on one healthcare system's mental health providers' willingness to discuss patient background during care coordination. An internal workgroup used intervention mapping enhanced with frameworks from socio-demographic-focused literature and implementation science. Data collection included surveys, interviews, and a participatory consensus process. The results were two multi-component intervention packages designed to address interpersonal and organizational barriers, each targeting providers' willingness and psychological safety in addressing patient-specific background factors with colleagues. The interventions were adopted by the setting and then later dissolved due to administrative shifts. While the resultant interventions are unique to this setting, we demonstrate a repeatable process for adapting a well-known intervention development method (intervention mapping (IM)) informed by theory and implementation science. This process can be applied in other healthcare systems for discerning multi-level interventions appropriate to different contexts.

OBJECTIVES: This quality improvement project sought to develop guidance for Home-Based Primary Care (HPBC) Mental Health (MH) clinicians on integrating Measurement-Based Care (MBC) into their practice and gain participating psychologists' feedback on their experience using MBC for treating mental health concerns with HBPC Veterans. METHODS: Based on feedback from the HBPC MH community and in consultation with national leadership, a workgroup of HBPC psychologists developed a guide tailoring MBC to HBPC Veterans. Eight HBPC psychologists piloted the adapted MBC approach with 53 Veterans. Participating psychologists provided feedback on measure administration, Veterans' responses to MBC, and perceived benefits and challenges. RESULTS: Pilot participants' feedback suggested that MBC can be a highly useful tool for delivering mental health services in HBPC, although feedback varied about specific MBC measures. Qualitative feedback was primarily positive, but participants noted challenges based on the nature of the presenting problem and Veteran-specific characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Findings indicate that MBC can be utilized with appropriate HBPC Veterans and has the potential to benefit care. Further research is needed to clarify factors that enhance or reduce MBC's utility within HBPC. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: HBPC MH providers identified MBC as a useful tool particularly when adapted to meet the needs of HBPC Veterans.

OBJECTIVES: This quality improvement project sought to develop guidance for Home-Based Primary Care (HPBC) Mental Health (MH) clinicians on integrating Measurement-Based Care (MBC) into their practice and gain participating psychologists' feedback on their experience using MBC for treating mental health concerns with HBPC Veterans. METHODS: Based on feedback from the HBPC MH community and in consultation with national leadership, a workgroup of HBPC psychologists developed a guide tailoring MBC to HBPC Veterans. Eight HBPC psychologists piloted the adapted MBC approach with 53 Veterans. Participating psychologists provided feedback on measure administration, Veterans' responses to MBC, and perceived benefits and challenges. RESULTS: Pilot participants' feedback suggested that MBC can be a highly useful tool for delivering mental health services in HBPC, although feedback varied about specific MBC measures. Qualitative feedback was primarily positive, but participants noted challenges based on the nature of the presenting problem and Veteran-specific characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: Findings indicate that MBC can be utilized with appropriate HBPC Veterans and has the potential to benefit care. Further research is needed to clarify factors that enhance or reduce MBC's utility within HBPC. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: HBPC MH providers identified MBC as a useful tool particularly when adapted to meet the needs of HBPC Veterans.

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has undoubtedly had a major impact on the provision of physical healthcare in Ireland and worldwide. The mental health impact of this pandemic cannot be underestimated, particularly relating to patients suffering from addiction. Heightened public stress and anxiety levels, increasing isolation and the physical consequences of addiction play a large role in the proliferation and ongoing relapse of substance misuse and behavioural addiction. Service provision is an ongoing challenge not only due to the increasing need for services given the increased mental health burden of COVID-19 but also the restrictions in place in clinical areas to achieve social distancing. The necessary adaptations to service provision provide opportunities for the analysis of current processes used in our addiction unit and the introduction of new processes to our service. The current crisis tests the sustainability of the service to provide the high standard of care required for these patients.