Study Aim/Purpose: The UCSF Institute for Health and Aging (IHA) has been selected by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) as one of 12 sites across the country to participate in a project examining mental health and substance abuse service delivery to the geriatric population. The purpose of the project is the evaluate alternative models of delivering and financing mental health and substance abuse services (namely alcohol diagnoses) for older adults through the primary health care setting. The project will compare the effectiveness of two models of treatment for older adults with mental health and alcohol abuse problems. In one model, identified as the "integrated model", subjects will receive all mental health and alcohol abuse care within their primary care organization. In the contrasting model, identified as the "referral model", subjects will be referred by the primary care organization to specialty clinics outside the primary care setting for mental health (i.e., Berkeley Therapy Institute) and alcohol abuse services (i.e., St. Mary's Center). The project will address issues involved in the identification and treatment of depression, anxiety, and alcohol abuse within these identified models.
Examining the relative effectiveness of two primary care models (an integrated staff model and a referral-based model) offering Mental Health/Substance Abuse (MH/SA) services to treat symptoms and improve outcomes of depression, anxiety and alcohol abuse among a consumer population consisting primarily of older African American consumers who are economically vulnerable.
Assessing the effectiveness of the two models in providing guideline quality care and expanding access to MH/SA services.
Identifying and using the best screening instruments for use with minority consumers.
Assessing the relative effectiveness of the two models in increasing acceptance of treatment recommendations, co...