Research Findings
Research Activities, April 2004:
Improving depression care has long-lasting benefits for blacks and Hispanics
Diagnosis and treatment of depression in the elderly increased in the 1990s, but racial and other disparities persist
Research Activities, March 2004:
Depression is common among people who are primary caregivers for patients with dementia
Research Activities, December 2003:
Studies focus on diagnosis and treatment of low back pain, as well as related pain and disability
Researchers focus on diabetes care
Researchers examine the effects of family and community violence and risky behaviors on children and adolescents
Research Activities, November 2003:
Use of antidepressants for elderly primary care patients has increased markedly
Functional limitations and family stressors worsen psychosocial adjustment among disabled school-aged children
Research Activities, October 2003:
Despite improvements in access to medications and psychotherapy, many depressed primary care patients are not treated
Patients with depressed mood and persistent anxiety use more medical care and have higher costs than other patients
Research Activities, September 2003:
Depression and anxiety affect a substantial number of elderly people living in the community
Research Activities, August 2003:
Researchers examine medication effectiveness and depression among cardiac patients
Research Activities, April 2003:
Studies focus on depression, disease self-management, and vaccination status among people with diabetes
Research Activities, March 2003:
Researchers examine efforts to improve primary care for depression
Research Activities, February 2003:
Almost one-third of depressed primary care patients reported either hazardous drinking, use of illicit drugs, or misuse of prescription drugs
Research Activities, December 2002:
Patient satisfaction seems to lead to higher quality of care for depression
Research Activities, October 2002:
Using an electronic medical record for diagnostic and treatment feedback does not lead to better primary care for depression
Cognitive impairment and depression are associated with functional decline in elderly people
Research Activities, August 2002:
Newer antidepressant drugs are prescribed more often than other medications for patients hospitalized for depression
Research Activities, July 2002:
Patients suffering from depression often overestimate their insurance coverage for mental health services
Research Activities, June 2002:
Depression in people with diabetes is associated with increased health care use and higher expenditures
Primary care physicians often prescribe psychotropic drugs to treat hyperactivity and depression in children
Although a sense of control at work and home affects people's risk for depression and anxiety, social class also counts
Research Activities, January 2002:
Few patients being treated for depression in primary care are counseled about substance abuse problems
QI programs that foster collaboration between mental health specialists and primary care doctors enhance depression care
Research Activities, December 2001:
Women are far more likely than men to have their depression diagnosed by their primary care doctors
Managed care cost-containment policies strengthen continuity of primary care for depressed patients
Researchers weigh benefits and costs of QI programs to enhance treatment of depression in primary care
Research Activities, November 2001:
Low education and income are related to poor health, chronic illness, and depression among Medicare-insured older women
Research Activities, May 2001:
Better ratings of the patient-provider relationship are associated with higher quality of care for depression
Research Activities, April 2001:
Feedback from an electronic medical record can help primary care doctors improve their initial management of depression
Research Activities, March 2001:
Quality improvement programs improve primary care clinician knowledge about depression treatment over 18 months
Research Activities, December 2000:
Most primary care patients with depression prefer counseling over medication
Research Activities, August 2000:
Materials now available for quality improvement of depression care in primary care practices
Research Activities, July 2000:
Newer and older antidepressants are equally effective for treating major depression in adults, but side effects differ
Sexual assault is a major problem for homeless women, which often correlates with physical and mental health problems
Research Activities, June 2000:
Recognizing and treating depression in primary care can prevent unnecessary hospitalizations and save money
Research Activities, April 2000: Researchers
assess programs to improve the quality of primary care for
depression in managed care Newer
antidepressants are as effective as older tricyclic agents in
primary care patients
Research Activities, January 2000: Helping
patients recover from depression should be a high priority in
primary care practices
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HIV/AIDS
Research Findings
Research Activities, January 2004:
Recent HCSUS studies focus on HIV infection in older individuals and women, use of complementary and alternative therapies, and insurance status
Research Activities, November 2003:
Researchers report recent findings from the HIV Cost and Services Utilization Study
Research Activities, July 2003:
Among people with HIV/AIDS, whites are much more likely than blacks to use medication to treat psychological problems
Research Activities, November 2001:
HCSUS studies examine mental health, drug abuse, insurance effects, and quality of life among people with HIV
Top of Page
Men's/Women's Health
Research Findings
Research Activities, April 2004:
Step-by-step procedures may help health care providers treat victims of intimate partner violence
Research Activities, February 2004:
Studies demonstrate high rates of assault and unmet health care needs among homeless women
Research Activities, July 2003:
One-third of adult survivors of childhood cancer suffer from psychological problems
Research Activities, March 2003:
Women are more likely than men to experience long-term posttraumatic stress disorder after major trauma
Research Activities, April 2002:
Disparities between men and women in minor mental health problems may reflect differences in social roles
Top of Page
Schizophrenia
Patterns of Usual Care for Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia PORT Treatment Recommendations
Research Findings
Research Activities, December 2001:
Missed diagnosis of mood and anxiety disorders is more likely among black than white schizophrenics
Research Activities, October 2001:
Age and race are associated with receipt of Medicare-funded outpatient care among people with schizophrenia
Research Activities, August 2000:
Satisfaction and clinical outcomes are similar for patients with schizophrenia treated in VA and non-VA facilities
Top of Page
Services Research
AHRQ Focus on Research: Mental Health
Compendium of Research Related to Mental Health
Programs and Tools to Improve the Quality of Mental Health Services
Research Findings
Research Activities, December 2003:
Formularies are not likely to control costs for psychotropic drugs as well as they do for some other types of drugs
Research Activities, July 2003:
Medicaid shifts to widely used mental health carve-out programs may interrupt therapy among the most needy patients
Research Activities, May 2003:
Patient characteristics and insurance coverage affect their ratings of managed behavioral health care plans
Research Activities, January 2003:
Behavioral health care workers need increased training to meet the changing realities of today's practice
Research Activities, June 2002:
New case study indicates that mental health parity did not raise costs for a large employer who used a managed care arrangement
Research Activities, October 2001:
Increasing primary care patients' access to short-term psychotherapy leads to lasting improvement in mental health
Research Activities, July 2001:
Facility, patient, and community factors are associated with long-term care costs for people with mental retardation
Research Activities, June 2001:
Consumer input is a critical component of efforts to improve the quality of behavioral health care services
Research Activities, May 2001:
ICU patients need to feel safe, a feeling that is influenced by family, friends, ICU staff, and other factors
Research Activities, April 2001:
Equalizing coverage for mental health and physical health would substantially reduce consumers' share of mental health costs
Research Activities, February 2001:
Mental health visits are cut by one-fourth when providers are paid a fixed rate per patient
Research Activities, December 2000:
Decentralization of California's mental health system enhanced access to care for the most severely ill patients
Research Activities, January 2000: Financial
incentives may influence health care providers' mental health
treatment decisions
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Stress
Research Findings
Research Activities, March 2004:
Depression is common among people who are primary caregivers for patients with dementia
Research Activities, February 2004:
Studies demonstrate high rates of assault and unmet health care needs among homeless women
Research Activities, November 2003:
Functional limitations and family stressors worsen psychosocial adjustment among disabled school-aged children
Research Activities, October 2003:
Patients with depressed mood and persistent anxiety use more medical care and have higher costs than other patients
Research Activities, September 2003:
Depression and anxiety affect a substantial number of elderly people living in the community
Research Activities, August 2003:
Ongoing distress from a traumatic event, not the trauma itself, is related to impaired functioning in patients with chronic pain
Research Activities, March 2003:
Women are more likely than men to experience long-term posttraumatic stress disorder after major trauma
Research Activities, February 2002:
Posttraumatic stress disorder affects nearly a third of trauma patients and hampers their recovery
Top of Page
Substance Abuse/Addiction
Evidence Report/Technology Assessment: Number 3 Pharamacotherapy
for Alcohol Dependence (Clinical Focus)
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force Recommendations:
Screening for Alcohol Misuse
Workshop Summary, July 19-21, 1999: Integrating Mental
Health and Substance Abuse Strategies: A Workshop for Denior State
Officials
Research Findings
Research Activities, February 2004:
Studies demonstrate high rates of assault and unmet health care needs among homeless women
Research Activities, May 2003:
Patients with traumatic brain injury should be screened for alcohol problems that can interfere with neurologic recovery
Research Activities, February 2003:
Almost one-third of depressed primary care patients reported either hazardous drinking, use of illicit drugs, or misuse of prescription drugs
Research Activities, January 2002:
Few patients being treated for depression in primary care are counseled about substance abuse problems
Research Activities, November 2001:
HCSUS studies examine mental health, drug abuse, insurance effects, and quality of life among people with HIV
Research Activities, October 2001:
Young people with coexisting substance abuse and emotional problems need specialized residential treatment
Research Activities, March 2001:
Veterans seeking help for postraumatic stress disorder generally admit to their abuse of drugs |