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Same-day integrated mental health services may improve time to diagnosis, treatment initiation

Integrating same-day mental health services into primary care may facilitate PTSD diagnosis and treatment initiation, according to study findings in Psychiatric Services.

To determine if same-day integrated mental health services increased diagnosis and treatment initiation among primary care patients, researchers analyzed data from a national sample of Veterans Health Administration primary care patients who screened positively for PTSD (n = 21,427). Study participants were assessed for PTSD diagnosis and treatment initiation on the day of screening and approximately 7 days, 12 weeks, 6 months and 1 year after screening positively. Screening setting was categorized as primary care only, same-day primary care–mental health integration or same-day specialty mental health care.

About half of the study cohort received a diagnosis within 1 year of screening positively for PTSD.

Researchers found same-day primary care–mental health integration services were associated with greater odds for PTSD diagnosis on the same day (OR = 2.23) and 1 year (OR = 1.67) after screening positively, compared with primary care services only (P < .001).

Compared with primary care services only, same-day primary care–mental health integration services were associated with increased odds for initiating PTSD treatment within 12 weeks of diagnosis among individuals who received a same-day diagnosis (OR = 3.39; P < .001).

Based on these results, same-day integrated mental health services may accelerate time to PTSD diagnosis and PTSD treatment initiation, according to researchers. – by Amanda Oldt

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.