Site Matters: Winning the Hearts and Minds of Patients in a Cardiology Clinic

Background: In medical care settings, mental health symptoms of depression and distress are associated with poor medical outcomes, yet they are often underrecognized. Objective: Authors sought to examine the effect of having immediate mental-health screening in the cardiology clinic. Method: The Patient Health Questionnaire and the Impact of Event Scale were used to screen for depression and distress in 316 patients at an urban cardiology clinic. Because of poor follow-up rates, a psychiatrist was placed on the premises of the cardiology clinic to facilitate referrals. Results: Placing a psychiatrist within the cardiology clinic significantly improved the rate of successful referrals. Conclusion: Because 45 patients (14%) endorsed suicidal thoughts, authors conclude that mental health screening programs should include an immediate evaluation by a clinician