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Telehealth Monitoring of Patients with Schizophrenia and Suicidal Ideation |
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| Authors: | John Kasckow MD PhD Shasha Gao PhD Barbara Hanusa PhD Armando Rotondi PhD Matthew Chinman PhD Susan Zickmund PhD John Gurklis MD Lauren Fox BS Jack Cornelius MD Ira Richmond DNP RN Gretchen L. Haas PhD |
| Affiliation: | 1. VA Pittsburgh MIRECC, CHERP and Behavioral Health, Pittsburgh, PA, USA;2. UPMC Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, Pittsburgh, PA, USA;3. VA Pittsburgh CHERP, Pittsburgh, PA, USA;4. VA Pittsburgh MIRECC, Pittsburgh, PA, USA;5. UPMC Critical Care, Pittsburgh, PA, USA;6. VA Pittsburgh MIRECC and CHERP, Pittsburgh, PA, USA;7. UPMC Department of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA;8. VA Pittsburgh Behavioral Health, Pittsburgh, PA, USA;9. VA Pittsburgh Patient Care Services, Pittsburgh, PA, USA;10. VA Pittsburgh MIRECC and Behavioral Health, Pittsburgh, PA, USA |
| Abstract: | A telehealth system was developed to monitor risk following hospitalization for suicidal ideation. We hypothesized that 3 months of telehealth monitoring will result in a greater reduction in suicidal ideation. Veterans with schizophrenia admitted with recent suicidal ideation and/or a suicidal attempt were recruited into a discharge program of VA Usual Care with daily Health Buddy© monitoring (HB) or Usual Care (UC) alone. Fifteen of 25 were randomized to HB and 10 received UC. Daily adherence in the use of the HB system during months 1–3 was, respectively, 86.9%, 86.3%, and 84.1%. There were significant improvements in Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation scores in HB participants. There were no changes in depressive symptoms. Telehealth monitoring for this population of patients appears to be feasible. |
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