Integrating primary care into a community mental health center.

Our initiation of a reverse-integration practice model revealed numerous advantages and rewards, as well as many challenges, for which we found solutions.

Characteristics and Red Flag Correlates of Psychiatric Outpatients in a Mandated-Use Prescription Drug Monitoring Program State: A PBRN Card Study.

OBJECTIVES: All 50 states have implemented a Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) in efforts to control prescription drug abuse. Many now mandate PDMP checks before clinicians prescribe controlled substances. The aim of this study was to characterize the associations between patient characteristics, red flags found on PDMP reports, and prescriber behavior at community mental health agencies. METHODS: Prescribers at 9 practice sites, in five regional community mental health centers, were recruited by a practice-based research network (PBRN) to participate in a Card Study. Prescribers completed a PDMP attitudes survey, and cards were completed for patients who had PDMP reports checked. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS: Thirty nine providers completed cards for n=249 unique patient encounters. Over 1/3 of all patients reported an addiction disorder (38%) or a diagnosis of chronic pain (34%). Twenty percent of PDMP reports were found to have red flags, most commonly multiple prescribers or multiple pharmacies. Red flags were associated with race (p<.0.05), presence of chronic pain (p<0.01), presence of an addiction diagnosis (p<0.05), use of opioids (p<0.001), and non-adherence with treatment (p<0.006). Among prescribers, red flags were associated with lower prescribing rates (p<0.01), and decisions to decrease dosage (p<0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Red flags were commonly found on PDMP reports done in community mental health settings, and were associated with important patient characteristics and diagnostic factors. PBRN research methods can be leveraged to obtain real-time observational data about psychiatric prescribers' use of PDMP reports in clinical decision-making in different settings.

Asenapine in the treatment of older adults with bipolar disorder.

OBJECTIVE: In spite of growing numbers of older people, there are few treatment studies on late-life bipolar disorder (BD). This was a 12-week prospective, open-label trial to assess efficacy and tolerability of adjunct asenapine in non-demented older adults (≥ 60 years) with sub-optimal previous response to BD treatments. METHODS: Asenapine was initiated at 5 mg/day and titrated as tolerated. Effects on global psychopathology were measured with Clinical Global Impression, bipolar version (CGI-BP), and the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS). Mood polarity severity was measured with the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale, and Young Mania Rating Scale. Other outcomes included the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule II. RESULTS: Fifteen individuals were enrolled (mean age 68.6, SD 6.12; 53% female; 73% Caucasian, 13% African American, and 7% Asian). There were 4/15 (27%) individuals who prematurely terminated the study, whereas 11/15 (73%) completed the study. There were significant improvements from baseline on the BPRS (p < 0.05), on CGI-BP overall (p < 0.01), and on CGI-BP mania (p < 0.05) and depression (p < 0.01) subscales. The mean dose of asenapine was 11.2 (SD 6.2) mg/day. The most common reported side effects were gastrointestinal discomfort (n = 5, 33%), restlessness (n = 2, 13%), tremors (n = 2, 13%), cognitive difficulties (n = 2, 13%), and sluggishness (n = 2, 13%). CONCLUSIONS: Older people with BD had global improvements on asenapine. Most reported adverse effects were mild and transient, but adverse effects prompted drug discontinuation in just over one quarter of patients. Although risks versus benefits in older people must always be carefully considered, asenapine may be a treatment consideration for some non-demented geriatric BD patients.

Some gestalt contributions to psychiatry.

Gestalt theory and methods support significant behavioral change and personal growth, yet they have not been widely incorporated into modern psychiatric practice. Challenges to employing Gestalt principles in psychiatric practice exist, such as focus on diagnosis to guide treatment planning, key elements of psychiatric training, primacy of medication management in psychiatric practice, and financial pressures. However, the concepts of the co-created relational field in the here and now, the paradoxical theory of change, the cycle of experience, and the use of experiment are Gestalt concepts and methods that can be effectively applied in the modern practice of clinical psychiatry and psychiatric education.

The "shrinking" clerkship: characteristics and length of clerkships in psychiatry undergraduate education.

OBJECTIVE: The authors explored the time that is currently devoted to psychiatry clerkships to determine whether "shortened" clerkships differ in course director satisfaction and evaluation strategies. METHOD: An 18-item questionnaire was sent to 150 U.S. and Canadian clerkship directors. RESULTS: The return rate was 74% (111 questionnaires). Clerkship length ranged from 4 to 8 weeks, with 6 weeks being most common (49.5% of clerkships). Only 18.9% had clerkships lasting 8 full weeks. Shorter clerkships were more likely to rely on the NBME subject test, and less likely to rely on Objective Standardized Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) or oral examinations. Most clerkship directors (81.9%) felt their evaluation procedures reflected their clerkship objectives. Among those who did not or were not sure, a majority (77.7%) felt having too few weeks was among the causes, except for 8-week clerkship directors, who did not mention clerkship length as an issue. CONCLUSIONS: The number of clerkships having 2 full months devoted to psychiatry has decreased in recent years. Shorter clerkships rely heavily on the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) Subject Examination as an evaluation tool, testing for book knowledge rather than clinical skills.

Usage of the National Board of Medical Examiners Subject Test in Psychiatry by U.S. and Canadian clerkships.

OBJECTIVE: The authors explored psychiatry clerkship usage of the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) Subject Test. METHODS: U.S. and Canadian psychiatry clerkship directors (N=150) were sent an 18-item questionnaire surveying evaluation and remediation practices. RESULTS: Of 111 questionnaires (74%) returned, 76 (69%) reported using the NBME Subject Test. As part of the overall grade, the test was granted a mean weight of 31% and a median weight of 25%. Of 72 clerkship directors who use the test for grading, 42% convert the percentile score and 38% convert the subject score. Of 60 clerkship directors who use the test for passing, 72% convert the raw score (mean=58.3, median=58), and 28% convert the percentile score (mean=12.2(th), median=11(th) percentile). CONCLUSIONS: Most psychiatry clerkship directors use the NBME Subject Test, but no predominant method exists for weighing the test or converting it into a grade.

Standards for Psychiatry Clerkship Directors.

The authors review the literature relevant to the position of Psychiatry Clerkship Director (PCD) and propose standards regarding the expectations for this position. The standards address qualifications, duties, and competencies in the areas of leadership, administration, education, mentoring, and scholarship, as well as the resources of time, administrative assistance, budget, and compensation required to carry out these duties. This paper has been endorsed by the Council of the Association of Directors of Medical Student Education in Psychiatry (ADMSEP), by the American Psychiatric Association's Committee on Medical Student Education, and by the Executive Committee of the American Association of Chairmen of Departments of Psychiatry.