Case Report of a Brief Modular Anxiety Intervention for Integrated Primary Care: Addressing Clinician Feasibility Concerns and Barriers to Using Manualized Treatments

Individuals with anxiety symptoms commonly present in primary care settings and prefer behavioral health (versus pharmacotherapy) treatment, but behavioral health interventions are underutilized. Primary care behavioral health (PCBH) models, in which embedded behavioral health providers deliver behavioral treatment in primary care, may help address the gap in provision of anxiety treatment. However, evidence-based anxiety treatment options feasible for delivery in primary care are limited, and clinicians often report concerns about using manualized interventions. Recent recommendations by the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force to increase anxiety screening among adults in primary care may result in increased identification of individuals with anxiety symptoms who may benefit from behavioral anxiety treatment. However, clinicians may be unable to meet the need for behavioral anxiety treatment due to lack of brief, manualized anxiety interventions. This article presents a case report from a pilot randomized controlled trial of an evidence-based, modular anxiety intervention designed for primary care settings. Session-by-session intervention content is described along with patient outcome data. We discuss the course of treatment in relation to commonly cited concerns about using manualized treatments, particularly within the brief treatment format required for efficient PCBH practice. We offer concrete strategies along with illustrative session dialogue to demonstrate successful delivery of an evidence-based, manualized anxiety intervention in primary care and facilitate utilization of this and similar interventions by behavioral health providers

Prospective Receptivity and Acceptability of Brief Alcohol Interventions Among Women and Racial/Ethnic Minority Veterans in Primary Care

Brief alcohol interventions (BAIs) are an evidence-based practice for addressing hazardous drinking among primary care patients, yet implementation of BAIs in practice has been difficult and disparities have been identified regarding implementing BAIs with women and racial/ethnic minority patients. Further, patient engagement is a commonly identified barrier to BAI implementation. This mixed methods study aimed to assess acceptability of BAIs among women and racial/ethnic minority primary care patients and to identify factors that may impact their receptivity to engaging in a BAI. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 17 patients who had screened positive for hazardous alcohol use. Patients reported neutral to positive acceptability ratings regarding BAIs, and qualitative responses yielded 4 main themes for factors that may impact receptivity to BAIs including: (1) delivery of the BAI, (2) patient-centeredness, (3) personal relevance, and (4) relationship with the provider. Results have potential implications for implementation of BAIs in primary care settings

Building Research and Evaluation Into the Collaborative Family Healthcare Association With Intention

In 2013, a bunch of us ran around collecting paper surveys off chairs after a plenary address at the Collaborative Family Healthcare Association\u27s (CFHA) annual conference. From 150 responses, we found that less than a quarter would take the time to attend a workshop about research and evaluation. Fast forward 5 years: The organization showed robust attendance at research and evaluation training sessions, and interest in a preconference had risen to 77%. What prompted this shift? In response to survey findings, the Research and Evaluation Committee (REC), supported by the CFHA, engaged a data-informed and stakeholder-responsive approach to cultivating empiricism within the CFHA. The activities led by the REC demonstrate the need for creativity and leadership in this area and the CFHA\u27s strong. organizational values around such efforts. As past and present leaders in the CFHA\u27s REC initiatives, we write this editorial to make explicit the value of research to the organization and the value of the organization to the evidence base. In addition, we document some key institutional history in this area and, with input from the CFHA\u27s current chief executive officer, Neftali Serrano, and REC chair, Will Lusenhop, forecast a vision for the future. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)