The need for integrating behavioral care in a college health center

OBJECTIVE: A trend toward the integrated care model is evident in community primary medical care settings, where behavioral services are provided alongside medical services. The present study explored the potential need for implementing an integrated care model at a Midwest University Health Center by investigating whether the use of two behavioral questionnaires influenced providers' prescription of psychotropic medications and referrals for behavioral intervention. DESIGN: Participants were randomly assigned to condition. The 109 participants in the experimental condition completed two behavioral questionnaires and the 91 control participants received treatment as usual. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The behavioral questionnaires were the mental health-oriented Patient Health Questionnaire and the college-adjustment-oriented College Health Questionnaire. Postvisit, all participants rated their satisfaction with treatment; providers documented psychotropic medication prescriptions, and behavioral treatment referrals. RESULTS: The experimental condition displayed significantly higher rates of discussion of behavioral problems and prescription of psychotropic medications but not referrals for behavioral treatment. Patients in the experimental condition and all providers indicated a desire to use the questionnaires in future visits. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that increased awareness of behavioral problems influences treatment-decision making at a university health service, and therefore this setting would be fertile ground for implementation of an integrated care model.