The PACE/PACENET Behavioral Health Laboratory Project: Evaluation of a Clinical Management Program Among Older Adults Newly Prescribed Medication for Behavioral Health Issues
Trial Snapshot
- Phase
- Not Applicable
- Status
- Completed
- Sponsor
- University of Pennsylvania
- Enrollment
- 2,432
- Locations
- 2
- Primary Endpoint
- Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI)
Study Overview
Brief Summary
The purpose of the current project is to conduct a program evaluation that examines the impact of the The SUpporting Seniors Receiving Treatment And INtervention (SUSTAIN) program - a telephone-based clinical service designed to help identify and manage behavioral health issues among enrollees in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Aging's Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly and the PACE Needs Enhancement Tier Program (PACE/PACENET) - on enrollee outcomes and to evaluate the feasibility and impact of an enhancement to the current clinical program.
Detailed Description
Despite advances in the assessment and treatment of behavioral health disorders among older adults, such disorders remain inadequately diagnosed and managed in later life. This is troubling in light of the fact that behavioral health issues often serve as the catalyst for a variety of negative psychosocial and physical health outcomes in later life, including changes in social network functioning, physical disability and morbidity, loss of independence, and institutionalization. Factors such as limited provider resources for conducting frequent monitoring, variability in patient preferences and symptom severity, patients' lack of treatment acceptance and engagement, low medication adherence, formal and informal social support and aid, and logistic issues (e.g., transportation, finances, etc.) all work in concert to influence patient identification and disease management. Yet, these factors are difficult to address when managing conditions using traditional mental health (MH) care delivery models that rely primarily on referrals to specialty care and/or face-to-face contact.
Recognizing that traditional MH care delivery models and treatment strategies do not address both practice- and patient-level logistical issues that are particularly relevant in behavioral health care, where frequent clinical visits for monitoring and therapeutic contact are key components in the successful treatment of patients, the investigators have adopted a strategy of delivering disease management by way of telephone assessments. The Behavioral Health Laboratory (BHL) is a flexible and dynamic telephone-based clinical service designed to help identify and manage behavioral health issues. The principles of the program include: MH as a key component to overall physical health; the need to make early MH screening, assessment, and referral to services a part of common practice; the value in utilizing technology in accessing and delivering MH care; and the importance of research- and evidence-based practice.
An untoward outcome of the efforts to improve rates of treatment is the increased and sometimes inappropriate use of psychotropic medication. Among the general population, the use of psychotropic medication and rates of psychotropic polypharmacy continue to rise, with increased use of medication for both anxiety and depression in both primary care and specialty care. The rates of use have raised concerns regarding inappropriate prescribing among the elderly.
Results from the investigators' initial program of care management services for PACE/PACENET cardholders support the above concerns related to psychotropic medication prescription in the elderly and also raise additional questions about off-label or inappropriate prescribing. The program results indicate that the PACE/PACENET population is mostly female with a mean age of 78.1 years (SD 7.0), and an SF-12 Physical Component Score of 41.6. The average Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) score for those on antidepressants (AD) was 6.1 (5.4), with no statistically significant difference between medication groups (F(2.436)=2.14, p=0.12); just 9 (6.3%) of those receiving anxiolytics (AX) met criteria for an anxiety disorder, which was not significantly different than other medication classes (x2(2)=1.77, p=0.41). Overall, 208 (47.4%) participants in the sample did not meet criteria for any mental health disorder, including 80 (55.9%) of those receiving anxiolytics.
Thus, the purpose of the current project is to evaluate the impact of the PACE/PACENET BHL clinical programs on older Pennsylvanians and to evaluate the feasibility and impact of enhancements to the current clinical program. The clinical contract for services targets PACE/PACENET beneficiaries who have been newly prescribed an antidepressant, antipsychotic (AP), and/or anxiolytic, and, where appropriate, their caregivers. In order to obtain a representative sample of PACE/PACENET enrollees, the PACE/PACENET program uses a stratified sampling method for the identification and referral of eligible beneficiaries to the PACE/PACENET BHL Clinical Program. Stratification is conducted with respect to two variables--county and medication type, with individuals randomly selected from each strata. Current clinical participants are not being sampled or contacted specifically for research purposes. The research portion of this project relates only to the evaluation of those enrolled in the clinical program and to the delivery and evaluation of the enhancements to the current program. Moreover, while the program provides services to a variety of patients with varying types and levels of symptoms, our primary objectives are specific to patients prescribed an antidepressant or anxiolytic who show significant baseline symptomatology. Nonetheless, we describe all program participants below.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Interventional
- Allocation
- Randomized
- Intervention Model
- Parallel
- Primary Purpose
- Health Services Research
- Masking
- None
Eligibility Criteria
- Ages
- 65 Years to — (Older Adult)
- Sex
- All
- Accepts Healthy Volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria
- •To be eligible for the Enhanced BHL Program, the only inclusion criterion is to have participated in an initial telephone assessment as part of the current PACE/PACENET BHL Clinical Program.
- •Similarly, to be eligible for the BHL Program Evaluations (i.e., BHL Clinical Data Evaluation, 3/6 Month Outcome Evaluation), the inclusion criterion is to have participated in an initial telephone assessment as part of the current PACE/PACENET BHL Clinical Program.
- •Enrollment in the current PACE/PACENET BHL Clinical Program. Though not part of the research program, the current program targets older, community-dwelling adults (i.e., 65 years and older) enrolled in the PACE/PACENET programs, who have filled at least one new prescription for an antidepressant, antipsychotic, and/or anxiolytic medication. The BHL program does require the basic ability to communicate by telephone; either the enrollee or an identified caregiver must meet this criterion for participation in the BHL Clinical Program.
Exclusion Criteria
- •Exclusion criteria for participation in the Enhanced BHL Program and the 3/6 Month Outcome Evaluation are:
- •having severe cognitive impairment (BOMC score 14 or greater) in the absence of a caregiver, and/or
- •endorsement of psychosis or mania during the initial clinical interview, and/or
- •a PHQ score of 25 or greater, and/or
- •positive drug abuse screen, and/or
- •alcohol dependence.
- •Enrollees endorsing any of above mentioned exclusions will be offered assistance with referral to community specialty-care resources as part of the PACE/PACENET BHL Clinical Program.
- •Exclusion criteria for caregiver participation in the TEP component of Enhanced Care is lack of report of cognitive impairment when only the Caregiver interview was completed.
Arms & Interventions
Enhanced Care High-Symptom AD/AX
Patients newly prescribed an antidepressant or anxiolytic who report significant baseline symptoms receive Enhanced BHL Program Services, which include the: 1) Standard Clinical Monitoring Module - evidence-based care consisting of up to 4 brief (5-10 minutes), structured assessments following the Core/baseline assessment. Interviews are conducted over the telephone by the Health Technician/BHP and take place during the initial 12 weeks of pharmaceutical treatment (e.g., 2, 6, 9, and 12 weeks), and monitor adherence, side effects, and treatment response. A progress report is provided to the prescribing clinician after each interview to help in treatment planning and to alert the clinician of special issues, and 2) Enhanced Care Management Module - Care Management services with a BHP.
Intervention: Enhanced BHL Program Services (Behavioral)
Standard Care High-Symptom AP
Patients newly prescribed an antipsychotic who report significant baseline symptoms receive Standard BHL Program Services, which include the Standard Clinical Monitoring Module - evidence-based care consisting of up to 4 brief (5-10 minutes), structured assessments following the Core/baseline assessment. Interviews are conducted over the telephone by the Health Technician/BHP and take place during the initial 12 weeks of pharmaceutical treatment (e.g., 2, 6, 9, and 12 weeks), and monitor adherence, side effects, and treatment response. A progress report is provided to the prescribing clinician after each interview to help in treatment planning and to alert the clinician of special issues.
Intervention: Standard BHL Program Services (Behavioral)
Standard Care High-Symptom AD/AX
Patients newly prescribed an antidepressant or anxiolytic who report significant baseline symptoms receive Standard BHL Program Services, which include the Standard Clinical Monitoring Module - evidence-based care consisting of up to 4 brief (5-10 minutes), structured assessments following the Core/baseline assessment. Interviews are conducted over the telephone by the Health Technician/BHP and take place during the initial 12 weeks of pharmaceutical treatment (e.g., 2, 6, 9, and 12 weeks), and monitor adherence, side effects, and treatment response. A progress report is provided to the prescribing clinician after each interview to help in treatment planning and to alert the clinician of special issues.
Intervention: Standard BHL Program Services (Behavioral)
Enhanced Monitoring Low-Symptom AD/AX/AP
Patients newly prescribed an antidepressant, anxiolytic, or antipsychotic who report low baseline symptoms receive Enhanced BHL Program Services, which for this group include the: 1) Standard Clinical Monitoring Module - evidence-based care consisting of up to 4 brief (5-10 minutes), structured assessments following the Core/baseline assessment. Interviews are conducted over the telephone by the Health Technician/BHP and take place during the initial 12 weeks of pharmaceutical treatment (e.g., 2, 6, 9, and 12 weeks), and monitor adherence, side effects, and treatment response. A progress report is provided to the prescribing clinician after each interview to help in treatment planning and to alert the clinician of special issues, and 2) Enhanced Monitoring via a one-time BHP follow-up call with the enrollee after 6 weeks to discuss continuing versus discontinuing the medication.
Intervention: Enhanced BHL Program Services (Behavioral)
Standard Monitoring Low-Symptom AD/AX/AP
Patients newly prescribed an antidepressant, anxiolytic, or antipsychotic who report low baseline symptoms receive Standard BHL Program Services, which include the Standard Clinical Monitoring Module - evidence-based care consisting of up to 4 brief (5-10 minutes), structured assessments following the Core/baseline assessment. Interviews are conducted over the telephone by the Health Technician/BHP and take place during the initial 12 weeks of pharmaceutical treatment (e.g., 2, 6, 9, and 12 weeks), and monitor adherence, side effects, and treatment response. A progress report is provided to the prescribing clinician after each interview to help in treatment planning and to alert the clinician of special issues.
Intervention: Standard BHL Program Services (Behavioral)
Enhanced Care High-Symptom AP
Patients newly prescribed an antipsychotic who report significant baseline symptoms receive Enhanced BHL Program Services, which include the: 1) Standard Clinical Monitoring Module - evidence-based care consisting of up to 4 brief (5-10 minutes), structured assessments following the Core/baseline assessment. Interviews are conducted over the telephone by the Health Technician/BHP and take place during the initial 12 weeks of pharmaceutical treatment (e.g., 2, 6, 9, and 12 weeks), and monitor adherence, side effects, and treatment response. A progress report is provided to the prescribing clinician after each interview to help in treatment planning and to alert the clinician of special issues, and 2) Enhanced Care Management Module - Care Management services with a BHP.
Intervention: Enhanced BHL Program Services (Behavioral)
Caregiver TEP Intervention
Caregivers of patients newly prescribed an antidepressant, anxiolytic, or antipsychotic who cannot participate due to cognitive impairment and meet criteria for dementia receive Enhanced BHL Program Services which include: 1) a baseline clinical assessment of caregiver and care recipient factors (e.g., level of disability, burden, safety concerns) and contact information for local community services, and 2) the Telehealth Education Program (TEP) - BHPs provide manual and workbook-guided psychoeducation, support, and skills training.
Intervention: Enhanced BHL Program Services (Behavioral)
Caregiver Control
Caregivers of patients newly prescribed an antidepressant, anxiolytic, or antipsychotic who cannot participate due to cognitive impairment and meet criteria for dementia receive Standard BHL Program Services, which include a baseline clinical assessment of caregiver and care recipient factors (e.g., level of disability, burden, safety concerns) and contact information for local community services
Intervention: Standard BHL Program Services (Behavioral)
Outcomes
Primary Outcomes
Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI)
Time Frame: Baseline and 3 and 6 month follow-up
Brief, 4-item version of the Zarit Burden Interview; Possible range = 0-16; higher scores denote greater perceived caregiving burden. This measure was only collected of caregivers who participated in SUSTAIN program services.
Medical Outcomes Survey Short Form (SF12) Mental Component Subscale (MCS) Score
Time Frame: Baseline and 3 and 6 month follow-up
A measure of overall mental health functioning as measured by the Medical Outcomes Survey Short Form (SF12) MCS subscale. Possible range = 0-100; higher scores mean better overall health functioning.
Secondary Outcomes
- Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9)(Baseline and 3 and 6 month follow-up)
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder - 7 (GAD-7)(Baseline and 3 and 6 month follow-up)
- Number of Participants With Moderately Severe to Severe Depression (Per Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9))(Baseline and 3 and 6 month follow-up)
Investigators
David Oslin
Professor of Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine
University of Pennsylvania