Integrating Behavioral Health into a Primary Care Setting: Effects of Integrated Care on Chronic Depression and Type 2 Diabetes Outcomes

Mental and behavioral health needs are more common in patients with other chronic medical illnesses. These mental and behavioral health problems are often associated with poor adherence to treatment, adverse health behaviors that complicate physical health problems, and excess health care costs. With the increased discussion of why integrating behavioral health and primary care is important, we must understand the various levels of integration that are possible. This study is designed to determine whether using a conventional (non-coordinated), co-location, or integrated health care delivery approach will improve depression and diabetes outcomes in individuals co-morbidly diagnosed with both conditions. We hypothesize that the findings from this study will demonstrate those patients who received the highest integrated level of care will show at least 20% improvements in both depression and diabetes outcomes. These improvements will be demonstrated through increased adherence to treatments, Patient Health Questionnaire-9 scores, and hemoglobin A1C levels as compared to the control group