Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40481385›Full record

Observational studyJournal of general internal medicine2026

A Quasi-Experimental Evaluation of a Primary Care Behavioral Health Integration Program Based on the Chronic Care Model.

Neda Laiteerapong, Sandra A Ham, Mim Ari, Nancy Beckman, Lisa M Vinci, Fabiana S Araújo, Daniel Yohanna, Danica Moser, Vivek Nandur, Erin M Staab

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Journal of general internal medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Neda LaiteerapongDepartment of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA. nlaiteer@medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu.ORCID 0000-0003-0124-4325
Sandra A HamSandra Ham Consulting, Buffalo, NY, USA.
Mim AriDepartment of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
Nancy BeckmanDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
Lisa M VinciDepartment of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
Fabiana S AraújoDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
Daniel YohannaDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
Danica MoserDepartment of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
Vivek NandurBooth School of Business, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
Erin M StaabDepartment of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMental health conditions are often underdiagnosed and undertreated in primary care, particularly in underserved areas. Integrated behavioral health models can address this gap, but their reliance on mental health professionals may limit scalability. A multi-level intervention based on the chronic care model may enhance mental health care delivery in resource-limited settings.

objectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness of a chronic care model-based primary care behavioral health integration program for improving the diagnosis and management of mental health conditions in a primary care setting.

designQuasi-experimental, pre-post observational study using interrupted time series analysis over a 10-year period (2010-2019).

participantsIn total, 59,723 adult patients aged >18 who had at least two medical visits between 2010 and 2019. The patient population was 58% non-Hispanic Black, 29% non-Hispanic White, and 64% female.

interventionsImplementation of clinical decision support systems for common mental health conditions (e.g., depression, anxiety, ADHD), self-management support, delivery system re-design within integrated behavioral health services, and health system community support with weekly behavioral health tips. MAIN MEASURES: Changes in the rate of mental health diagnoses and follow-up care (including psychiatric medications, referrals to psychiatry or behavioral medicine, and primary care visits with a mental health diagnosis). KEY

resultsThe rate of mental health diagnoses increased by 58.8 per 1000 person-years in the first year after intervention implementation (p = 0.001). Follow-up care in primary care increased by 102.1 per 1000 person-years (p = 0.03), while psychiatry referrals decreased by 59.8 per 1000 person-years annually after the intervention (p = 0.004).

conclusionsThis chronic care model-based system-level intervention was associated with significant increases in mental health diagnosis and treatment within primary care. Expanding the role of primary care in managing mental health conditions may offer a scalable solution to mental health professional shortages, especially in underserved areas.

Indexed as

Delivery of Health Care, IntegratedMental DisordersMental Health ServicesPrimary Health CareAdultAgedChronic Care ModelChronic DiseaseFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedProgram EvaluationYoung AdultBehavioral healthChronic care modelClinical decision supportIntegrated carePrimary care

Identifiers

PMID40481385
PMCPMC13009416

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.