UNASSIGNED: Detection and management of late-life depression largely relies on primary care. Yet in Singapore, older adults are unlikely to seek help for their mental health from their primary care providers. This qualitative descriptive study explores how late-life depression manifests to general practitioners (GPs) in the Singaporean primary care setting.
UNASSIGNED: Twenty-eight private GPs practicing in Singapore were asked about their clinical experience with late-life depression during semi-structured group and individual discussions conducted online. Participants were purposively sampled across age, gender, and ethnicity (Chinese, Malay, Indian). Transcripts were analysed with reflexive thematic analysis.
UNASSIGNED: To GPs, depression in older patients often manifests through somatic symptoms or subtle behavioural changes, only detectable through follow-ups or collateral history. GPs reported that older patients attribute depressive symptoms to normal ageing or do not mention them, particularly within an Asian culture encouraging stoic endurance. GPs perceived late-life depression as reactions to ageing-related stressors, with male, low-income, or institutionalised patients being at particular risk of insidious, severe depression. GPs noted ethnic differences regarding families\' involvement in care, which they described as helpful, but sometimes stress-provoking for patients. Fear of burdensomeness or loss of autonomy/social role could prompt rejection of diagnosis and treatment in patients. GPs considered good patient-doctor rapport as a facilitator at every step of the care process, noting more favourable prognosis in care-concordant patients.
UNASSIGNED: Depression in older adults in Singapore can be covert, with favourable outcomes relying on GPs\' ability to pick up on subtle changes, assess patients holistically, and build rapport with patients and families.
UNASSIGNED: This work was funded by the Division of Family Medicine Research Capabilities Building Budget under the project \"Technology and Compassion: Improving Patient Outcomes Through Data Analytics and Patients\' Voice in Primary Care\" [NUHSRO/2022/049/NUSMed/DFM].

BACKGROUND: Recent reviews have highlighted the need for participatory research to design and evaluate inclusive, community-based interventions that address the diverse needs of people with lived experience of psychosis, within and beyond the health sector. The SUCCEED Africa consortium aims to co-produce a 6-year programme of research across four countries in West (Sierra Leone, Nigeria) and Southeast Africa (Zimbabwe and Malawi). This protocol describes the pilot study in which SUCCEED\'s intervention, research tools and processes will be tested on a small scale in each country in preparation for future evaluation research.
METHODS: The SUCCEED intervention comprises peer support, case management and livelihood activities for people with lived experience of psychosis. The pilot uses a before-and-after study design investigating change in subjective quality of life in adults diagnosed with a primary psychotic disorder or another mental disorder with psychotic symptoms who are offered the SUCCEED intervention over a 4-month period. Nested within this study are the following: a baseline assessment of the feasibility, acceptability and face validity of the selected measurement tool and validity of proxy versus self-completion; and a multi-method process evaluation examining key process indicators and implementation, service and client-level outcomes. Methods include the following: baseline cognitive interviews; semi-structed observation and routine monitoring and evaluation of service delivery; endline interviews and focus group discussions; and a comparison of provider competencies at endline. At each of the four pilot sites, participants will include the following: ten people with lived experience of psychosis, recruited from either health services or community settings using purposive sampling to maximise variation; up to ten adult family members (one per participant with lived experience) involved in their care; the peer support worker, community support worker and supervisor responsible for delivering the intervention; and the data collectors. Recruitment will take place in July and August 2023.
CONCLUSIONS: To the best of our knowledge, this will be the first study of a community-based intervention incorporating lay-delivered case management, formal peer support and livelihoods activities for people with lived experience of psychosis in sub-Saharan Africa. Findings will be relevant not only to SUCCEED but also to others interested in promoting rights-based approaches to community mental health in low-resource settings.
BACKGROUND: US National Library of Medicine (ClinicalTrials.gov), Protocol reference ID 28346. Initially registered retrospectively July 20/2023: In review.

Mental health problems represent a growing global concern. This has intensified since the coronavirus pandemic and is also partly due to greater awareness of the extent of mental health problems and the lack of attention they have received over time. In many high-income countries, increases in service provision have been accompanied by efforts to increase the mental health literacy of the general population. One example of this in Australia, is the mental health first aid training program which is informed by the mental health first aid guidelines created to promote mental health literacy among the general population, reduce stigma, and enable lay people to provide timely support, and facilitate access to health services for a person developing a mental health problem or in a mental health crisis.
Between March 2020 and May 2023, a consortium of researchers from Australia, Argentina and Chile carried out the cultural adaptation of five guidelines (drinking problems, depression, suicide risk, trauma, and psychosis) using the Delphi consensus methodology. Health professionals with expertise in each of the topics and people with lived experience (their own or as informal caregivers) from Argentina and Chile were grouped into separate panels. Over two survey rounds, they evaluated the items from the Australian guidelines and gave their opinion on the importance of their inclusion in the local guidelines. Additionally, they suggested items not included in the Australian guidelines.
This report presents the details of the methodology used and the most significant results of each of the five adapted guidelines, particularly, those of relevance to the Argentinian and Chilean context. The general acceptance of the role of the first aider stands out as an important outcome. However, in comparison to Australia, the first aider’s role was reduced and the health professional role was expanded. Self-help recommendations were typically not endorsed by local experts, suggesting skepticism toward these strategies. Other specific recommendations for each of the guidelines are described and analyzed in this report.
A study of the implementation of training courses based on these guidelines is required to make the necessary adaptations and determine their local usefulness.
Los problemas de salud mental en la comunidad representan una preocupación global creciente, intensificada desde la pandemia por coronavirus y gracias a una mayor conciencia respecto de su extensión y del bajo nivel de atención que recibieron a lo largo del tiempo. En Australia se crearon las primeras guías de primeros auxilios en salud mental para promover un mayor conocimiento de temas de salud mental en la población general, brindar apoyo oportuno, facilitar el acceso a los servicios de salud por esta problemática, y disminuir el estigma asociado al padecimiento mental.
Un consorcio de investigadores de Australia, Argentina y Chile, entre marzo de 2020 y mayo de 2023, realizó la adaptación cultural de cinco guías (consumo problemático de alcohol, depresión, riesgo de suicidio, trauma, y psicosis) siguiendo la metodología de consenso Delphi. Profesionales expertos en cada uno de los temas y personas con experiencia vivida  (propia o como cuidadores informales) conformaron sendos paneles con miembros de Argentina y de Chile. En dos rondas de consulta evaluaron los ítems provenientes de las guías de Australia y opinaron sobre su pertinencia para formar parte de las guías locales. Adicionalmente, sugirieron ítems que no estaban contemplados en las guías australianas.
El presente reporte presenta el detalle de la metodología empleada y los resultados más significativos de cada una de las cinco guías adaptadas y, particularmente, su aplicabilidad para Argentina y Chile. Sobresale la aceptación general del rol del asistente de primeros auxilios en salud mental, aunque también con limitaciones en el rol y funciones en favor del privilegio de profesionales de la salud. Las recomendaciones de auto-ayuda fueron mayoritariamente no aceptadas por los expertos locales, sugiriendo desconfianza respecto de estas estrategias. Otras recomendaciones específicas para cada una de las guías se describen y analizan en este reporte.
Se requiere un estudio de la implementación de la capacitación en base a estas guías para realizar ulteriores adaptaciones y determinar su utilidad local.

BACKGROUND: Child maltreatment (CM) includes neglect, and several types of abuse, including physical, emotional, and sexual. CM has been associated with a wide range of mental illnesses. Literature examining these illnesses in mid-life is scarce, and the impact of these illnesses on mental health service use is currently unknown.
OBJECTIVE: To examine associations between self-reported CM and subsequent hospital admissions for mental illnesses, and/or community mental health service contacts.
METHODS: Birth cohort study data linked to administrative health data, including hospital admissions and community mental health service contacts, up to the age of 40.
METHODS: Associations between hospital admissions for mental health and community mental health contacts and CM subtypes (neglect, physical abuse, emotional abuse and sexual abuse) were examined using multivariate logistic regression.
RESULTS: Adjusted analyses showed that all subtypes of CM were significantly (p < 0.05) associated with admissions to hospital for any type of mental illness (aOR range 1.87-3.61), non-psychotic mental disorders (aOR range 1.98-3.61), alcohol and/or substance use (aOR range 2.83-5.43), and community mental health service contacts (aOR range 2.44-3.13). Hospital admissions for psychotic mental disorders were significantly associated with physical abuse, emotional abuse, and sexual abuse (aOR range 2.14-3.93).
CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study confirm the current knowledge around CM and subsequent mental health illnesses up to the age of 40, and extend this knowledge to hospital and mental health service use.

UNASSIGNED: This study aimed to clarify the association between treatment status (untreated or treated) at the start of community mental health outreach services and service intensity.
UNASSIGNED: This retrospective cohort study was conducted using the Tokorozawa City mental health outreach service users\' data. Treatment status at the start of service (exposure variable) and the service intensity (outcome variables) were taken from clinical records. Poisson regression and linear regression analyses were conducted. The frequency of medical or social service use 12 months after service initiation was also calculated. This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee at the National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (No. A2020-081).
UNASSIGNED: Of 89 people, 37 (42%) were untreated. Family members in the untreated group were more likely to be targets or recipients of services than in the treated group (b = 0.707, p < 0.001, Bonferroni-adjusted p < 0.001). Compared to the treated group, the untreated group received fewer services themselves (b = -0.290, p = 0.005), and also fewer services by telephone (b = -0.252, p = 0.012); by contrast, they received more services at the health center (b = 0.478, p = 0.031) and for family support (b = 0.720, p = 0.024), but these significant differences disappeared after Bonferroni adjustment. At least 11% of people in the untreated group were hospitalized and 35% were outpatients 12 months after service initiation.
UNASSIGNED: Family involvement may be a key service component for untreated people. The service intensity with and without treatment may vary by service location.

BACKGROUND: Despite the high burden of perinatal depression in Nepal, the detection rate is low. Community-based strategies such as sensitization programmes and the Community Informant Detection Tool (CIDT) have been found to be effective in raising awareness and thus promoting the identification of mental health problems. This study aims to adapt these community strategies for perinatal depression in the Nepalese context.
METHODS: We followed a four-step process to adapt the existing community sensitization program manual and CIDT. Step 1 included in-depth interviews with women identified with perinatal depression (n=36), and focus group discussions were conducted with health workers trained in community mental health (n=13), female community health volunteers (FCHVs), cadre of Nepal government for the prevention and promotion of community maternal and child health (n=16), and psychosocial counsellors (n=5). We explored idioms and understanding of depression, perceived causes, and possible intervention. Step 2 included draft preparation based on the qualitative study. Step 3 included a one-day workshop with the psychosocial counsellors (n=2) and health workers (n=12) to assess the understandability and comprehensiveness of the draft and to refine the content. A review of the CIDT and community sensitization program manual by a psychiatrist was performed in Step 4.
RESULTS: The first step led to the content development for the CIDT and community sensitization manual. Multiple stakeholders and experts reviewed and refined the content from the second to fourth steps. Idioms of depression and commonly cited risk factors were incorporated in the CIDT. Additionally, myths of perinatal depression and the importance of the role of family were added to the community sensitization manual.
CONCLUSIONS: Both the CIDT and community sensitization manual are grounded in the local context and are simple, clear, and easy to understand.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the practices of most mental health providers and resulted in a rapid transition to providing telemental health services, changes that were likely related to stay-at-home policies as well as increased need for services.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine whether these changes to practice have been sustained over time throughout the course of the COVID-19 pandemic and whether there are differences among mental health provider type and setting. We hypothesized that there would be an increase in the number of patients seen in person after the initial surge of the pandemic in spring 2020 and subsequent discontinuation of stay-at-home policies, though with continued implementation of telemental health services across settings.
METHODS: This study surveyed 235 of the 903 mental health providers who responded to a survey in spring 2020 (Time point 1) and at a 1-year follow-up in spring 2021 (Time point 2). Differences in practice adjustments, factors related to telemental health, and number of patients seen were examined across provider type (social worker, psychologist, neuropsychologist) and setting (academic medical center [AMC], community mental health, private practice, and Veterans Affairs hospital).
RESULTS: From Time point 1 to Time point 2, there was a small but significant increase in the overall number of providers who were implementing telehealth (191/235, 81% to 204/235, 87%, P=.01) and there was a significant decline in canceled or rescheduled appointments (25%-50% in 2020 to 3%-7% in 2021, P<.001). Psychologists and providers working at AMCs reported decreased difficulty with telehealth implementation (P<.001), and providers working at AMCs and in private practice settings indicated they were more likely to continue telehealth services beyond spring 2021 (P<.001). The percent of time working remotely decreased overall (78% to 59%, P<.001), which was most notable among neuropsychologists and providers working at an AMC. There was an overall increase in the average number of patients seen in person per week compared with earlier in the pandemic (mean 4.3 to 8.7, P<.001), with no change in the number of patients seen via telehealth (mean 9.7 to 9.9, P=.66).
CONCLUSIONS: These results show that the rapid transition to telemental health at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in spring 2020 was sustained over the next year, despite an overall increase in the number of patients seen in person. Although more providers reported returning to working on-site, over 50% of providers continued to use a hybrid model, and many providers reported they would be more likely to continue telemental health beyond spring 2021. This suggests the continued importance and reliance on telemental health services beyond the acute pandemic phase and has implications for future policies regulating the availability of telemental health services to patients.

To support families and reduce the burden of child mental, emotional, and behavioral problems, evidence-based parenting interventions must remain effective in real-world service delivery contexts. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the GenerationPMTO (GenPMTO) intervention during sustained implementation in the Michigan public mental health system using a single-arm open trial (pre-post) design. We also examined potential predictors of treatment response. A multilevel analysis framework was utilized to evaluate data from 365 caregivers who completed GenPMTO treatment. Results revealed significant positive improvements from pretest to posttest in all four outcome domains (i.e., parenting confidence, parenting practices, caregiver depressive symptoms, child behavior problems). When compared to group-based GenPMTO delivery, the individual delivery format was associated with significantly greater improvements in overall effective parenting practices, as well as in the subdomain of skill encouragement. Caregiver gender, caregiver educational level, and child age were all implicated as predictors of GenPMTO outcomes. These findings add to the literature by supporting the effectiveness of the GenPMTO intervention when fully integrated into mental health care practice and can inform continued efforts to provide families with evidence-based services in community settings.

BACKGROUND: Although research on the implementation of evidence-based psychological treatments (EBPTs) has advanced rapidly, research on the sustainment of implemented EBPTs remains limited. This is concerning, given that EBPT activities and benefits regularly decline post-implementation. To advance research on sustainment, the present protocol focuses on the third and final phase-the Sustainment Phase-of a hybrid type 2 cluster-randomized controlled trial investigating the implementation and sustainment of the Transdiagnostic Intervention for Sleep and Circadian Dysfunction (TranS-C) for patients with serious mental illness and sleep and circadian problems in community mental health centers (CMHCs). Prior to the first two phases of the trial-the Implementation Phase and Train-the-Trainer Phase-TranS-C was adapted to fit the CMHC context. Then, 10 CMHCs were cluster-randomized to implement Standard or Adapted TranS-C via facilitation and train-the-trainer. The primary goal of the Sustainment Phase is to investigate whether adapting TranS-C to fit the CMHC context predicts improved sustainment outcomes.
METHODS: Data collection for the Sustainment Phase will commence at least three months after implementation efforts in partnering CMHCs have ended and may continue for up to one year. CMHC providers will be recruited to complete surveys (N = 154) and a semi-structured interview (N = 40) on sustainment outcomes and mechanisms. Aim 1 is to report the sustainment outcomes of TranS-C. Aim 2 is to evaluate whether manipulating EBPT fit to context (i.e., Standard versus Adapted TranS-C) predicts sustainment outcomes. Aim 3 is to test whether provider perceptions of fit mediate the relation between treatment condition (i.e., Standard versus Adapted TranS-C) and sustainment outcomes. Mixed methods will be used to analyze the data.
CONCLUSIONS: The present study seeks to advance our understanding of sustainment predictors, mechanisms, and outcomes by investigating (a) whether the implementation strategy of adapting an EBPT (i.e., TranS-C) to the CMHC context predicts improved sustainment outcomes and (b) whether this relation is mediated by improved provider perceptions of treatment fit. Together, the findings may help inform more precise implementation efforts that contribute to lasting change.
BACKGROUND: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05956678 . Registered on July 21, 2023.

Exposure is an important element of treatment for many evidence-based treatments but can be challenging to implement. Supervision strategies to support exposure delivery may be an important tool to facilitate the use of exposure techniques; however, they must be considered and used in the context of the supervisory alliance. The present study examined relations between supervisory alliance and fidelity to the trauma narrative (TN; i.e., imaginal exposure) component of Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. We also examined how supervisory alliance moderated the effect of behavioral rehearsal use in supervision on TN fidelity. We analyzed data from a randomized controlled trial, in which forty-two supervisors and their clinicians (N = 124) from 28 Washington State community-based mental health offices participated. Clinicians were randomized to receive one of two supervision conditions-symptom and fidelity monitoring (SFM) or SFM with behavioral rehearsal (SFM + BR). Supervisory alliance alone did not predict delivery (i.e., occurrence) or extensiveness of delivery of the trauma narrative. Client-focused supervisory alliance moderated the effectiveness of behavioral rehearsal-as client-focused alliance increased, the odds of delivering the TN also increased significantly. Future research should further investigate how to appropriately match supervision techniques with supervisory dyads and explore the interplay of alliance with supervision techniques a supervisor might employ.