Mental health
Mental health is a vital part of overall health. But traditional mental health therapy reaches only a fraction of the millions who need treatment. So researchers at Group Health Research Institute (GHRI) are finding practical, patient-centered ways to reach people affected by conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, and anxiety.
“Patient-centered mental health care is organized around peoples’ preferences and lifestyle,” said Gregory Simon MD, MPH, senior investigator at GHRI and a Group Health psychiatrist. For example, Dr. Simon, Senior Research Associate Evette Ludman, PhD, and others are working with Group Health to deliver high-quality mental health care using primary care visits, the telephone, and secure online messaging.
“We emphasize that people living with psychological problems are not defined by their condition,” Dr. Ludman said. “We go beyond the traditional focus on resolving symptoms and help people harness their motivation to achieve a healthier life.”
Innovative patient-centered mental health programs developed at GHRI include:
- Collaborative care that integrates depression treatment into primary care
- Flexible psychotherapy programs delivered online or by telephone
- Depression programs that address health conditions that often accompany depression (diabetes, heart disease, obesity)
- Using technology such as the Internet and secure e-mail for outreach and care coordination
- Reducing the risk of self-harm or suicide attempts
- Improving physical health in people with severe mental health problems
- Combining peer support with professional treatment for mood disorders
- Broadening the focus of mental health treatment from symptom management to recovery
- Activating mental health patients to be more knowledgeable and assertive
“We’re removing barriers to receiving effective mental health care, so patients can get treatment when, where, and how it works best for them,” Michael Von Korff, ScD, senior investigator, said.
GHRI researchers in mental health
Affiliate researchers
- Paul S. Ciechanowski, MD, MPH
University of Washington (UW) Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences - Wayne J. Katon, MD
UW Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences - Elizabeth Lin, MD, MPH
Group Health Cooperative Family Practice;
Group Health Research Institute - Sue McCurry, PhD
UW Department of Psychosocial and Community Health - Jürgen Unützer, MD, MPH
UW Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Recent publications on mental health
2010
Ehlenbach WJ, Hough CL, Crane PK, Haneuse SJ, Carson SS, Curtis JR, Larson EB. Association between acute care and critical illness hospitalization and cognitive function in older adults. JAMA. 2010;303(8):763-70. PubMed
Lin EH, Rutter CM, Katon W, Heckbert SR, Ciechanowski P, Oliver MM, Ludman EJ, Young BA, Williams LH, McCulloch DK, Von Korff M. Depression and advanced complications of diabetes: a prospective cohort study. Diabetes Care. 2010 Feb;33(2):264-9. Epub 2009 Nov 23. PubMed
Ludman E, Simon GE, Ichikawa LE, Operskalski BH, Arterburn D, Linde JA, Jeffery RW, Rohde P, Finch EA. Does depression reduce the effectiveness of behavioral weight loss treatment? Behav Med. 2010;35(4):126-34. PubMed
Sherman KJ, Ludman EJ, Cook AJ, Hawkes RJ, Roy-Byrne PP, Bentley S, Brooks MZ, Cherkin DC. Effectiveness of therapeutic massage for generalized anxiety disorder: a randomized controlled trial. Depress Anxiety. 2010 May;27(5):441-50. Epub 2010 Feb 23. PubMed
Tutty S, Spangler DL, Poppleton LE, Ludman EJ, Simon GE. Evaluating the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral teletherapy in depressed adults. Behav Ther. 2010 Jun;41(2):229-36. Epub 2010 Jan 6. PubMed
2009
Bonomi AE, Anderson ML, Reid RJ, Rivara FP, Carrell D, Thompson RS. Medical and psychosocial diagnoses in women with a history of intimate partner violence. Arch Intern Med. 2009;169(18):1692-7. PubMed
Simon GE, Arterburn DE. Does comorbid psychiatric disorder argue for or against surgical treatment of obesity? Gen Hosp Psychiatry. 2009;31(5):401-2. Epub 2009 Jul 3. PubMed
Simon GE, Ludman EJ, Rutter CM. Incremental benefit and cost of telephone care management and telephone psychotherapy for depression in primary care. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2009;66(10):1081-9. PubMed
Simon GE, Ludman EJ. It's time for disruptive innovation in psychotherapy. Lancet. 2009;374(9690):594-5. PubMed
2008
Katon WJ, Russo JE, Von Korff M, Lin EH, Ludman E, Ciechanowski PS. Long-term effects on medical costs of improving depression outcomes in patients with depression and diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2008;31(6):1155-9. Epub 2008 Mar 10. PubMed
Our major research interests
- Aging & geriatrics
- Alternative approaches to healing
- Behavior change
- Biostatistics
- Cancer control
- Cardiovascular health
- Child & adolescent health
- Chronic illness management
- Health informatics
- Health services & economics
- Immunization & infectious diseases
- Medication use & patient safety
- Mental health
- Obesity
- Preventive medicine
- Women's health