News and Commentary
MANAGED CARE March 1998. ©1998 Stezzi Communications
Kaiser Permanente and the federal Agency for Health Care Policy and Research are cooperating on a project designed to help physicians identify patients in primary care who could benefit from behavioral health services. The goal is to enable health plans to offer proactive interventions to appropriate individuals through primary care.
Researchers want to gain a better understanding of the effects of depression and other mental health problems on physical illness and risky behavior, such as drug and tobacco use. They will evaluate use of nonmental health services by people with documented mild symptoms of depression, anxiety and panic disorder.
Findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals beginning next year.
MANAGED CARE March 1998. ©1998 Stezzi Communications