Evaluation of integrated psychological services in a university-based primary care clinic

J Clin Psychol Med Settings. 2014 Mar;21(1):19-32. doi: 10.1007/s10880-013-9378-8.

Abstract

Primary care is increasingly moving toward integration of psychological services; however few studies have been conducted to test the efficacy of such an integrated approach. This paper presents a program evaluation of psychological services provided by doctoral trainees in clinical and counseling psychology within a primary care clinic at an urban academic medical center. It includes: (1) a description of the program, including types of patients served, their presenting problems, and treatments administered and; (2) evidence of the impact of behavioral health services on primary care patients' emotional adjustment and progress on behavioral goals. Intake and follow-up measures of depression, anxiety, smoking, insomnia, chronic pain, and weight loss were collected on 452 adult patients (mean age = 52; 59 % African-American; 35 % uninsured) who were provided brief interventions (mean visits = 2.2) over a 16-month period. Although conclusions are limited by the lack of a control or comparison group, preliminary findings indicate that the integrated behavioral health services provided were effective. Implications and future directions are discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Academic Medical Centers / methods*
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Counseling / methods
  • Delivery of Health Care, Integrated / methods*
  • Delivery of Health Care, Integrated / statistics & numerical data
  • Education, Graduate / methods
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Mental Disorders / therapy*
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Compliance / statistics & numerical data
  • Primary Health Care / methods*
  • Primary Health Care / statistics & numerical data
  • Program Evaluation / methods*
  • Program Evaluation / statistics & numerical data
  • Psychology, Clinical / methods
  • Training Support / methods
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Virginia
  • Young Adult