The Role of the Patient-Centered Medical Home in Treating Depression

Abstract

Purpose of Review This review discusses the role of the patient-centered medical home (PCMH) in treating depression, focusing on findings from primary care-based studies and their implications for the PCMH. Recent Findings Pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, and collaborative care are evidence-based treatments for depression that can be delivered in primary care and extended to diverse populations. Recent research aligns with the core components of the PCMH model. Summary The core components of the PCMH are critical elements of depression treatment. Comprehensive care within the PCMH addresses medical and behavioral health concerns, including depression. Psychiatric and psychological care must be flexibly delivered so services remain accessible yet patient-centered. To ensure the quality and safety of treatment, depression symptoms must be consistently monitored. Coordination within and occasionally outside of the PCMH is needed to ensure patients receive the appropriate level of care. More research is needed to empirically evaluate depression treatment within the PCMH.

Nurturing an organizational context that supports team-based primary mental health care: A grounded theory study

“…The Patient-Centred Medical Home is an effective model of primary care for treating and coordinating mental health care [ 1 – 3 ] . As a team-based model of primary care, the Patient-Centred Medical Home partners family physicians with a range of interprofessional healthcare providers (IHPs)–such as nurses, social workers, psychologists, pharmacists, and other types of healthcare providers—to enhance comprehensive patient-centered care by broadening access to a range of health and mental health services [ 2 , 4 ].…”

“…Some of the guiding principles of the Patient-Centred Medical Home [ 5 ] include an emphasis on ongoing patient-provider relationships, whole-person care, accessibility, and comprehensive coordination [ 6 – 8 ]. These guiding principles underpinning the Patient-Centred Medical Home form an optimal structure to deliver timely access to much-needed comprehensive mental health treatment for depression and anxiety [ 1 , 2 ]. Efforts to expand the Patient-Centred Medical Home model continue across the United States and Canada as a way to respond to the shortage of family physicians, and with aims to improve management of chronic diseases, and in some cases, mental health care [ 1 , 2 , 6 , 7 , 9 ].…”

“…These guiding principles underpinning the Patient-Centred Medical Home form an optimal structure to deliver timely access to much-needed comprehensive mental health treatment for depression and anxiety [ 1 , 2 ]. Efforts to expand the Patient-Centred Medical Home model continue across the United States and Canada as a way to respond to the shortage of family physicians, and with aims to improve management of chronic diseases, and in some cases, mental health care [ 1 , 2 , 6 , 7 , 9 ]. Despite the aims to strengthen and expand the Patient-Centered Medical Home, research has found inconsistent process and outcomes when it comes to mental health care [ 10 ].…”

“…Despite the aims to strengthen and expand the Patient-Centered Medical Home, research has found inconsistent process and outcomes when it comes to mental health care [ 10 ]. It remains unclear, the extent to which mental health care is integrated within the organizational structure of these recently established teams, and how the organizational structure of these teams may help facilitate the delivery of mental health care [ 1 – 2 , 6 , 7 , 11 ].…”