What is it about?
Population-level screening is one way to integrate mental health into primary care. This strategy normalizes mental health, thus addressing associated stigma; provides an entry into mental health care that many patients may not otherwise have; and when depressed patients opt for antidepressant medication, visits to primary care increase for medication management.
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Why is it important?
Universal screening in primary care provides a much needed access point to mental health care such as psychoeducation, medication, cognitive behavioral therapy, and treatment referrals.
Perspectives
I hope this research helps readers understand the ways in which integration of mental and behavioral health into primary care is key to reducing health disparities as well as the stigma associated with mental illness. Numerous individuals do not have any access or exposure to mental health care. Primary care screening, treatment, and referrals provide care that many would not receive otherwise. Ideally, whether patients or providers, the article may provide insights into innovative roles for primary care to address mental health.
Hale Thompson
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Collaborative Care for Depression of Adults and Adolescents: Measuring the Effectiveness of Screening and Treatment Uptake, Psychiatric Services, July 2019, American Psychiatric Association,
DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.201800257.
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