APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY LABORATORY East Tennessee State University etsu/apl/

1. Mood Disorder Recognition in Rural Primary Care: Is it Depression or Bipolar Disorder ? APPLIED PSYCHOLOGY LABORATORY East Tennessee State University http://www.etsu.edu/apl/ Johnson City, Tennessee Druery, Ryne C., Miesner, Michael T., & Dula, Chris S. INTRODUCTION RESULTS DISCUSSION Data were subjected to a Chi Square. Mental Health Referrals differed as a function of mood disorders , X2 (2)=26.52, p <.001 • It’s been known for over a decade that patients with mental illnesses seek no mental health care, but approximately 80% of those patients will receive treatment from a primary care physician (Strosahl, 1998). • In a large multi-site study, Lowe et al. (2008) found that within primary care facilities, patients reported there were over 50% of an overlap occurring between anxiety, depression, and somatization. However, each of these disorders had prevalence rates of approximately 10% in primary care independently. • Research has indicated that whereas only one third of patients in primary care are properly diagnosed as depressed, up to 50% of the potentially depressed patients may be incorrectly diagnosed (Budman & Butler, 1997; Munoz, Hollon, McGrath, Rhen, & VandenBos, 1994). • Though a large sample (72%) of the positive screeners sought professional help for the symptoms of bipolar disorder, only 9 of these patients (8.4%) were actually diagnosed with bipolar disorder (Das et al., 2005) . • The findings of this pilot study concerns the amount of mood disorders noted, and additionally, how these mood disorders were handled. • During chart review, it was found that when a possible serious mood disorder was noted often no record of a referral to a mental health expert was made by a PCP. • It should also be noted that of the patients referred to a mental health expert all were already being treated with medicine prescribed by their PCP. • It is possible to conclude that interventions in primary care is necessary to help physicians detect these disorders and treat them more effectively. Mood Disorder Noted in Chart vs. Mental Health Referral LIMITATIONS • Data was only collected from one primary care site. • There was no way to verify that the medical charts were complete in regards to the patients medical history. • The scope of this project limited us from accurately gathering the type of mood disorder as well as the severity of the mood disorder due to medical chart review nature. Mood Disorders and Treatments Given HYPOTHESES IMPLICATIONS & FUTURE DIRECTIONS • H1: It was hypothesized that depression and bipolar disorder are commonly recognized in primary care, but often not a focus on treatment or referrals. • H2: It was hypothesized that when depression and bipolar disorder is treated in primary care, it is done so in a pharmacological manner using Antipsychotics, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI) or Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCA). • Future studies are planned in which multiple interventions will be tested. • These interventions will look to educate physicians about depression and bipolar disorders by providing brief assessment tools, and strategies on how to refer their patients with mood disorders to mental health providers in integrated primary care. • These future studies and interventions will also research on ways PCP’s can reduce the negative stigma the general public has in regards to seeing a mental health expert. Note: Some patients may be represented more than once due to multiple treatments or misdiagnosis METHOD • Participants : 100 medical charts were reviewed at a rural family medicine clinic. • Method: Data was collected using 8 undergraduates trained to review medical charts in the integrated primary care practice. Information that was obtained relative to mood disorders was the treating physician, first notation of depression and bipolar disorder, method of treatment, any medications which could be used (including off label uses) to treat the mood disorder, and if a mental health referral occurred. REFERENCES CONTACT: Ryne_Druery@yahoo.com or Chris S. Dula, dulac@etsu.edu