for Health Care Providers
Integrated Mental Health Care for Patients with Chronic Hepatitis C - Hepatitis C
Background
Active mental health and substance use disorders (MH/SUD) among Veterans with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are common barriers to treatment. These comorbidities affect diagnosis, linkage to and retention in care, and disease progression.
HCV patients often present with complex psychosocial issues at statistically higher rates than the general population. They are 90% more likely to have a history of IV drug use, 35% more likely to be homeless, 25% more likely to be co-infected with HIV, 25% more likely to have a history of incarceration, and 19% more likely to present with a mental illness. Given the high prevalence of MH/SUD in Veterans with HCV, increasing the availability of services to address this need is of critical importance in their successful treatment. Several studies have found that HCV patients with MH/SUD can achieve sustained viral response rates similar to those seen among patients without these comorbidities.
Integrated Care
Integrated health care teams work together to establish treatment plans addressing patients' biological, psychological, and social needs. The interdisciplinary health care team can include many types of providers, such as physicians, psychologists, social workers, and occupational and physical therapists, etc. The team makeup is dependent on the patient's needs.
Mental health providers in particular can add the following services to a care team:
- Cognitive, capacity, diagnostic, and personality assessments that differentiate normal processes from pathologic states, side effects of medications, adjustment reactions, or combinations of these problems
- Behavioral health assessment and treatment that provide individuals with the self-management skills necessary to effectively manage their chronic conditions
- Diagnosis and treatment of mental and behavioral health problems (e.g., depression, suicide risk, anxiety disorders, addiction, and insomnia)
- Consultation and recommendations to family members, significant others, and other health care providers
- Contribution of research expertise to the design, implementation, and evaluation of team care and patient outcomes
- Development of interventions that are responsive to specific individual and community characteristics that may impact the treatment plan
Integrating clinical psychological services into HCV clinical care settings can take many forms. Bonner et al. (2012) propose the following three models and encourage clinics to select the model best suited to local resources and expertise.
| Features | Integrated | Collaborative | Hybrid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Co-located services | ✓ | ||
| Convenience for staff | ✓ | ||
| Convenience for patients | ✓ | ||
| Most streamlined and efficient | ✓ | ||
| Maximizes access to MH/SUD services | ✓ | ||
| Strong and ongoing relationship with MH/SUD providers and clinics | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Providers use outpatient consultation | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Staffed by nonphysician providers with training in MH/SUD care | ✓ | ||
| Brief screening and intervention | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Assistance in case management | ✓ | ✓ |
Across all models of integrated care, a specialty staff is critical for improving treatment outcomes, retention in care, and quality of life for patients. Social work is vital to facilitating communication among providers, monitoring treatment outcomes, recognizing concerns that may not present during clinic visits, and connecting Veterans to important resources necessary for continued engagement in care as well as overall health outcomes. Liaison with mental health and substance use staff also is crucial, as primary care is responsible for many patients with comorbid disorders who may not have been diagnosed or treated for MH/SUD.
Integrated care models also utilize Tele-Mental Health services to facilitate access to and delivery of MH/SUD services. Telehealth can help address critical barriers to care such as stigma, distance from care providers, and disability.
Resources
SAMHSA: Service Members, Veterans, and their Families Technical Assistance Center
Tools for Reducing Alcohol Use
References
American Psychological Association. Health Care Reform: Integrated Health Care. Bonner JE, Barrit AS 4th, Fried MW, et al. Time to rethink antiviral treatment for hepatitis C in patients . Dig Dis Sci. 2012 Jun;57(6):1469-74.
Groessl EJ, Sklar M, Cheung RC, et al. Increasing antiviral treatment through integrated hepatitis C care: a randomized multicenter trial. Contemp Clin Trials. 2013 Jul;35(2):97-107.
Ho SB, Groessl E, Dollarhide A, et al. Management of chronic hepatitis c in veterans: the potential of integrated care models. Am J Gastroenterol. 2008 Jul;103(7):1810-23.
Knott A, Dieperink E, Willenbring ML, et al. Integrated psychiatric/medical care in a chronic hepatitis c clinic: effect on antiviral treatment evaluation and outcomes. Am J Gastroenterol. 2006 Oct;101(10):2254-62.
Ojikutu B, Holman J, Kunches L, et al. Interdisciplinary HIV care in a changing healthcare environment in the USA. AIDS Care. 2014;26(6):731-5.
