Journal of Clinical Psychology in Medical Settings最新文献

Prevalence rates of perinatal mood disorders range from 5 to 25%. Furthermore, suicide is a leading cause of death in postpartum women. Various factors have been associated with an increased risk of suicide in postpartum women, including co-occurring mental health disorders, lack of mental health care, and substance use. It is important for mental health screening and psychological assessment used within OB-GYN clinics to be current with regard to postpartum mood dysfunction and suicide risk assessment. We collected data from a sample of 78 postpartum women (0-6-month post-delivery), focusing specifically on patterns of emotional/internalizing dysfunction, using three different screening measures as predictors. Contrary to hypotheses, our sample did not produce significant elevations on target criterion scales of the Minnesota multiphasic personality inventory-3 (MMPI-3). Although the multidimensional behavioral health screen (MBHS) was better at differentially capturing MMPI-3 elevations when compared to the Edinburgh postnatal depression scale (EDPS) and patient health questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), two of the three comparisons were not statistically significant. Statistical analyses were challenged by our extremely low base rate for elevated suicide risk. Despite this, the MBHS performed better than the EPDS and PHQ-9 at accurately capturing elevated suicide risk.

There is growing recognition of the profound mental health challenges faced by the 53 million U.S. family caregivers, and the need for increased access to psychosocial care for this vulnerable population. Family caregivers are increasingly seeking support from hospital-based counseling centers. This trend-combined with a public policy landscape that promotes the delivery of caregiver-specific supports and services-highlights challenges faced by mental health professionals to provide and bill for psychosocial care to family caregivers. In this paper, we discuss three interrelated challenges that mental health professionals face in providing care to family caregivers and which our field needs to confront as healthcare transfers more responsibilities onto the shoulders of family caregivers: (1) caregiver burden is not recognized as a formal diagnosis; (2) current documentation for caregivers is typically linked to patient encounters; and (3) support for family caregivers occurs within larger systematic barriers to mental health integration. By accurately describing and documenting caregiver burden and advocating for increased parity in mental health coverage, we hope that the field can bridge the gap between emerging research, momentum in policy, and available psychosocial services for this vulnerable population.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic blood condition that places youth at increased risk for deficits in complex attention suggestive of increased risk for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). We used systematic screening to assess the prevalence of ADHD in a clinic-based sample of youth with SCD and explored factors related to ADHD. Caregivers of 107 children with SCD (ages 7-11 years) completed routine psychosocial screening which included inattentive symptoms of ADHD. Follow-up diagnostic procedures were completed for patients with elevated inattentive symptoms to assess for ADHD diagnoses. Biomedical and social-environmental variables were examined from the screening and medical records. Twenty-six percent of patients showed elevated inattentive symptoms with 13% meeting diagnostic criteria for ADHD diagnoses. Most children (75%) who met criteria for ADHD had not been previously diagnosed. Disease severity did not predict inattentive symptoms or ADHD diagnoses, though a measure of chronic inflammation was associated with ADHD. Family functioning was related to elevated inattentive symptoms but not ADHD diagnoses. Children with SCD show relatively high rates of ADHD with many cases not detected through routine care. Screening for ADHD as part of hematology care may be a feasible strategy to improve identification and access to intervention.

Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) is a major medical event with a high burden of psychosocial sequelae. SCAD survivors require psychological support to facilitate recovery. This pilot study involved feasibility testing of an online group support program for SCAD survivors, co-designed by clinicians, survivors and researchers. The SCAD Online Support Program uses the principles of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. The four-session-manualized program, facilitated by a registered psychologist and a SCAD survivor, was delivered to 33 SCAD survivors (6-7 per group). Participant and Project Advisory Group feedback led to iterative program refinements. Qualitative and quantitative acceptability data were evaluated. Participants completed pre- and post-program questionnaires to assess engaged living (life fulfilment and valued living), enrichment, self-efficacy, anxiety, depression and cardiac distress. Changes in proportions classified as anxious, depressed and distressed were identified. Qualitative comments highlighted the support, camaraderie and skills gained through the program. There were improvements in levels of life fulfilment, valued living, enrichment, self-efficacy, anxiety, depression, and cardiac distress, and reductions in proportions classified as anxious, depressed and distressed. The SCAD Online Support Program was successfully co-designed, implemented and modified, shown to be acceptable to SCAD survivors, and demonstrates potential for improving mental health outcomes.

Pre-surgical psychological evaluations (PSPE) are required during the spinal cord stimulator (SCS) implantation process, but there is no standard protocol for SCS PSPE. In this study, we assessed the concurrent and predictive validity of the Stanford Integrated Pyschosocial Assessment for Transplantation (SIPAT) compared with patient-reported measures and election for SCS implantation. This study used prospectively collected data at the time of PSPE from N = 222 patients at a Midwestern academic medical center. We collected SIPAT scores and Patient-Reported Outcome Measurement Information Systems (PROMIS) scores, and recorded receipt of permanent SCS implantation as a binary (yes/no) outcome. The SIPAT correlated with patient-reported outcomes of Anxiety, Depression, Fatigue, Sleep, and Pain Interference in the expected direction. The SIPAT was a significant predictor of election for permanent SCS implantation when accounting for age and pain diagnosis, such that individuals with higher SIPAT scores were less likely to elect for surgery. Exploratory analyses showed that the SIPAT Patient Readiness subscale and patient-reported Anxiety and Depression PROMIS scales correlated with election for SCS surgery. Results of this study demonstrated validity of the SIPAT in a novel population, patients with chronic pain referred for SCS implantation.

Doctoral psychology internships play a key role in the development of the competencies of the clinical child and adolescent psychologist workforce needed to serve the increasing behavioral and mental health needs of children. This study surveyed 50 internship training directors regarding workforce needs, the structure of experiential internship components, and the organizational infrastructure and funding of internship programs that provide focused care to children and adolescents within medical settings. Findings suggest that internships most commonly occur within academic medical settings and include clinical child psychology, integrated care, pediatric psychology, neuropsychology, and developmental disabilities tracks. On average, sites had 6 interns, 3 tracks, and 4 major rotations per track. Training directors identified program funding to be the greatest barrier to sustaining internship programs. Currently, internships are funded through clinical revenue, grants, and organizational funds covering an average intern salary of $31,020 plus benefits as well as 0.3 FTE of a training director's time to administrate the program. The number of internship tracks within a single program was associated with greater administrative time for the training director. Implications for advocacy at the federal, state, profession, and institutional level to increase funding and decrease barriers to training are discussed.

Bright IDEAS-Young Adults (Bright IDEAS-YA) is a problem-solving skills training intervention that has been adapted for young adults with cancer. Presently, a multisite randomized control trial is being conducted to determine Bright IDEAS-YA's efficacy in supporting a young adult population. This case study demonstrates the young adult adaptation of Bright IDEAS - Bright IDEAS-YA - being delivered to a young adult cancer patient via telehealth. Telehealth is a novel delivery method for Bright IDEAS and Bright IDEAS-YA that was established due to COVID-19 safety precautions. The patient, who reported challenges in several life domains, was taught how to apply the Bright IDEAS-YA framework over six telehealth sessions. After completing the Bright IDEAS-YA framework, the patient reported increased feelings of confidence in managing new stressors, which was corroborated through outcome measures delivered during and following intervention. This case illustrates how early psychosocial intervention following a cancer diagnosis, delivered via telehealth, can help patients develop and implement personal strategies to reduce stress levels.

The aims of this study were to evaluate the utility of therapeutic assessment (therapeutic assessment) as a brief intervention to target reduction in A1C levels and to assess the levels of personality functioning and broad trait domains described in the DSM-5 Alternative Model for Personality Disorders in a sample of patients with Type 2 diabetes and their relationship to A1C levels at baseline and follow-up. Participants (n = 99) were recruited from a primary care office and provided feedback on how their personality functioning and pathological personality traits might influence their diabetes management. Results indicated that 66.25% of participants receiving TA feedback decreased their A1C levels below 7. Those who improved reported less difficulty with intimacy and trends toward higher levels of personality functioning and lower levels of interpersonal detachment. Results suggest that providing TA feedback is worthy of further investigation for considering its therapeutic effects in helping patients to manage Type 2 diabetes.

To improve interventions for people with cancer who experience clinically relevant distress, it is important to understand how distress evolves over time and why. This review synthesizes the literature on trajectories of distress in adult patients with cancer. Databases were searched for longitudinal studies using a validated clinical tool to group patients into distress trajectories. Twelve studies were identified reporting trajectories of depression, anxiety, adjustment disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder. Heterogeneity between studies was high, including the timing of baseline assessments and follow-up intervals. Up to 1 in 5 people experienced persistent depression or anxiety. Eight studies examined predictors of trajectories; the most consistent predictor was physical symptoms or functioning. Due to study methodology and heterogeneity, limited conclusions could be drawn about why distress is maintained or emerges for some patients. Future research should use valid clinical measures and assess theoretically driven predictors amendable to interventions.

To explore the receipt of mental health education, assessment, and referrals, and mental health service use among individuals with vestibular disorders. Patients with vestibular disorders living in the US, Australia, Canada, and the UK were surveyed through social media forums. Questionnaires assessed demographics, anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7), depression (Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression-10), dizziness (Dizziness Handicap Inventory), and type of professional providing mental health education, assessment, referral, and treatment. The 226 participants were largely White (90%), educated (67% holding an associate's degree or higher) women (88%) with an average age of 45 who self-identified as having chronic vestibular symptoms (78%), as opposed to episodic ones (22%). Fifty-two percent reported never receiving verbal education, written education (69%), mental health assessment (54%), or referral (72%). Participants were more likely to receive mental health treatment in the past if they had received verbal resources and/or referrals from clinicians. The majority of patients with vestibular disorders report that medical professionals have not provided education, mental health assessment, or a mental health referral.