Integrating Behavioral Health and Primary Care

Describes three promising behavioral health models to improve care and access for mental health and substance use disorders, including psychiatric mental health nurses, mobile technology, and using crisis services

Discusses successful strategies and approaches for integrating behavioral health into primary care in order to improve patient outcomes

Reviews 28 studies about alcohol treatments delivered in primary care settings, finding that trials of naltrexone and disulfiram had positive results, but that more studies are needed to assess the effectiveness of the full scope of alcohol treatment

Provides recommendations to support integrated primary care teams, including behavioral health providers, in adapting to and sustaining virtual team-based care

Includes an infographic guide on the benefits of three medications for alcohol use disorder and provides a brief summary of treatment planning and medications approved by the Food and Drug Administration

Identifies barriers to women receiving treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD), including many health and social needs and discusses ways in which treatment interventions could better target the unique needs of women with AUD

A literature review describing common practices for transitioning patients from specialty mental health care to primary care, including substance use

Explores the use of technology to facilitate behavioral health and primary care integration with a focus on (1) screening for behavioral health issues, (2) clinician documentation, and (3) sharing data among clinicians, patients, and authorized parties. Details action-oriented recommendations and strategies for safe use of health IT for stakeholders and policymakers seeking to advance efforts to integrate behavioral health with primary care

A narrative review that provides an overview of several models of whole-person care and studies that illustrate the business case and evidence for implementing whole-person models in primary care