Implementation of Measurement Based Care in an Integrated Health Setting

In America, Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is the second leading cause of years lived with disability (YLDs) and imposes an economic burden of over $200 billion annually (Ferrari et al., 2013; Greenberg, Fournier, Sisitsky, Pike, & Kessler, 2015). Rapid treatment optimization of MDD: (1) reduces patient suffering; (2) minimizes negative effects on brain structure and function; (3) increases the patient’s chance of response, remission, and time until remission; and (4) decreases the economic burden of depression (Greenberg et al., 2015; Habert et al., 2016; Kennedy et al., 2016; Moylan et al., 2013; Oluboka et al., 2017; Romera et al., 2012). Measurement Based Care (MBC) involves the routine use of psychometric measurement tools in the treatment of mental health disorders and has been found to improve patient outcomes (Knaup, Koesters, Schoefer, Becker, & Puschner, 2009; Reese, Norsworthy, & Rowlands, 2009). It is believed that MBC improves outcomes by providing more accurate information regarding the severity of patients’ symptoms than the clinical interview alone (Peselow, Karamians, Lord, Tobia, & IsHak, 2014). Despite this, only 20% of behavioral health medical providers (BHMPs) use psychometric measurement tools into their routine practice (Hatfield et al., 2010; Zimmerman & McGlinchey, 2008). In this paper, current research evaluating patient outcomes when using MBC will be reviewed and a plan to implement MBC in a community mental health setting will discussed