Limited English proficiency (LEP) may contribute to mental health care disparities, yet empirical data are limited.
To quantify the language barriers to mental health care by race/ethnicity using a ...direct measure of LEP is the objective of the study.
Cross-sectional analysis of the 2001 California Health Interview Survey is the study's design.
Adults aged 18 to 64 who provided language data (n = 41,984) were the participants of the study.
Participants were categorized into three groups by self-reported English proficiency and language spoken at home: (1) English-speaking only, (2) Bilingual, and (3) Non-English speaking. Mental health treatment was measured by self-reported use of mental health services by those reporting a mental health need.
Non-English speaking individuals had lower odds of receiving needed services (OR: 0.28; 95% CI: 0.17-0.48) than those who only spoke English, when other factors were controlled. The relationship was even more dramatic within racial/ethnic groups: non-English speaking Asian/PIs (OR = 0.15; 95% CI: 0.30-0.81) and non-English speaking Latinos (OR: 0.19; 95% CI: 0.09-0.39) had significantly lower odds of receiving services compared to Asian/PIs and Latinos who spoke only English.
LEP is associated with lower use of mental health care. Since LEP is concentrated among Asian/PIs and Latinos, it appears to contribute to racial/ethnic disparities in mental health care. Heightened attention to LEP is warranted in both mental health practice and policy.
Abstract Objective The objective of the study was to test the hypothesis that clinical case management is more cost-effective than usual care for frequent users of the emergency department (ED). ...Methods The study is a 24-month randomized trial obtaining data on psychosocial problems through interviews and service usage and cost data from administrative records. Results Two-hundred fifty-two frequent users were randomized (167 to case management, 85 to usual care). Case management was associated with statistically significant reductions in psychosocial problems common among ED frequent users, including homelessness, alcohol use, lack of health insurance and social security income, and financial need. Case management was associated with statistically significant reductions in ED use and cost. Case management and usual care patients did not differ in use or cost of other hospital services. Conclusions Case management appears cost-effective for ED frequent users because it yields statistically and clinically significant reductions in psychosocial problems at a cost similar to that of usual care.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening has taken on new importance as a result of updated guidelines and new curative therapies. Relatively few studies have assessed HCV infection in homeless populations, ...and a minority include women. We assessed prevalence and correlates of HCV exposure in a cohort of homeless and unstably housed women in San Francisco, and estimated the proportion undiagnosed.
A probability sample of 246 women were recruited at free meal programs, homeless shelters, and low-cost single room occupancy hotels in San Francisco; women with HIV were oversampled. At baseline, anti-HCV status was assessed using an enzyme immunoassay, and results compared in both HIV-positive and negative women. Exposures were assessed by self-report. Logistic regression was used to assess factors independently associated th HCV exposure.
Among 246 women 45.9% were anti-HCV positive, of whom 61.1% were HIV coinfected; 27.4% of positives reported no prior screening. Most (72%) women were in the 'baby-boomer' birth cohort; 19% reported recent injection drug use (IDU). Factors independently associated with anti-HCV positivity were: being born in 1965 or earlier (AOR) 3.94; 95%CI: 1.88, 8.26), IDU history (AOR 4.0; 95%CI: 1.68, 9.55), and number of psychiatric diagnoses (AOR 1.16; 95%CI: 1.08, 1.25).
Results fill an important gap in information regarding HCV among homeless women, and confirm the need for enhanced screening in this population where a high proportion are baby-boomers and have a history of drug use and psychiatric problems. Due to their age and risk profile, there is a high probability that women in this study have been infected for decades, and thus have significant liver disease. The association with mental illness and HCV suggests that in addition increased screening, augmenting mental health care and support may enhance treatment success.
In the United States, the proportion of criminal legal-involved (CLI) adults with a substance use disorder reaches 72%, and ~150,000 persons with HIV pass through a carceral setting annually, which ...represents 16% of the HIV-infected population nationally. Despite the high need for substance use treatment and HIV prevention services, few carceral settings successfully link CLI individuals to treatment upon release. Young adults represent 41.9% of the adults incarcerated in the United States and have the highest HIV incidence rates nationally. Peer patient navigation has successfully increased community-based care linkage for people living with HIV leaving jail; yet, peer-led navigation for HIV prevention among HIV-negative CLI populations is undeveloped and untested. eHealth approaches to substance use and HIV prevention services hold promise because they improve access to effective intervention services, particularly for younger people.
This paper describes a protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial that aims to improve linkage to substance use treatment and HIV prevention services using peer navigation and a codeveloped eHealth technology adjunct.
The three aims of this study are to (1) adapt an existing evidence-based navigator model and incorporate codeveloped eHealth technology to refer and link young adults (18 to 29 years) surveilled by the criminal legal system to substance use and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) services; (2) refine and test the intervention with criminal legal-involved young adults (CLI-YAs); and (3) assess the feasibility, acceptability, and impact of the intervention. Data to inform the intervention will be collected via system partner interviews (n=4) and focus groups with CLI-YAs (n=24). Next, an open trial (n=10) will be conducted. The intervention will be refined via interviews with participants and facilitators, and a randomized pilot trial (n=75) will be conducted to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary impact of the eHealth-enhanced navigation on substance use and PrEP services linkage. Exit interviews conducted with a subsample of intervention participants (n=10), the navigator (n=1), and system partners (n=4) will assess intervention acceptability and suggestions for improvement. A community of practice, a group of system partners with an interest in working toward solutions to common problems, will inform each phase of the study.
The project is currently ongoing. The project was funded in September 2022. Internal review board approval was received on March 21, 2022. The first results from early study aims are expected to be published in 2025.
This study provides an opportunity to reduce HIV acquisition and improve access to substance use treatment in a systemically marginalized group: young CLI-YAs. The results will contribute to the development and testing of a future multilevel randomized controlled trial.
DERR1-10.2196/54815.
Sexual assault (SA) is a highly prevalent global public health problem and a robust predictor of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance use disorder (SUD), and suicidality. A large ...percentage are drug or alcohol facilitated (DFSA), impairing trauma memory and affecting the application of evidence-based treatments. Despite these problems, few have investigated DFSA-specific mental health (MH) needs.
Goals of this study were (1) to identify psychological sequelae characterizing DFSA towards explaining why symptoms have been treatment-refractory, comparing survivors with involuntary substance ingestion (forced, covert: DFSA-I), voluntary ingestion (DFSA-V), and non-DFSA; and (2) to determine how impaired trauma memory relates to the development of PTSD and depression symptoms.
Data from a retrospective chart review of 74 adults receiving SA MH services at an outpatient trauma center are presented. The sample includes a 2-year cohort seen acutely at an urban rape treatment center. The study is one of the first to examine therapy records beyond case studies for DFSA. Logistic, Poisson, and negative binomial regression analyses of quantitative data and qualitative thematic analysis of trauma cognitions and treatment foci were conducted.
DFSA-V had five times greater odds of SUD, and notable substance-related self-blame compared to DFSA-I. DFSA-I had prominent relationship distress and self-blame for missing danger of perpetrator drugging. Survivors with impaired trauma memory had significantly fewer hyper-arousal and overall PTSD symptoms, and specifically less hypervigilance. No differences were found in re-experiencing symptoms.
Impaired trauma memory is common in DFSA and is associated with fewer baseline hyper-arousal and overall PTS. Despite this, DFSA issues including re-experiencing symptoms that are particularly distressing without the ability to cognitively connect the intrusions contribute to increased treatment needs. Impaired memory limits the application of evidence-based treatments, and collectively these findings call for the development of trauma-specific treatment protocols to enhance recovery for DFSA survivors.
Survivors of drug-facilitated sexual assault have prominent PTSD including reexperiencing, though trauma memory may not be encoded. * Those absent trauma memory have less hyperarousal, but DFSA complications explain why it is treatment refractory and inform treatment development.
Abstract Background Stress associated with minority statuses has been linked to mental health disorders. However, research conducted exclusively among impoverished women, a population known to be at ...risk for poor health owing to overlapping risks, is sparse. We sought to determine if homeless and unstably housed sexual minority (i.e., nonheterosexual) women were at greater psychiatric risk than their heterosexual counterparts. We also sought to determine if racial/ethnic minority and human immunodeficiency virus status contributed to psychiatric risks. Methods Homeless/unstably housed women living in San Francisco between 2008 and 2010 were followed biannually over 3 years. Generalized estimating equation analysis identified significant correlates of any substance use, mood, or anxiety disorder, as well as the total number of psychiatric disorders. Results Among 300 women, 24% reported nonheterosexual identity at the first study visit. Consistent with minority stress theory, lesbian and bisexual identity were associated with higher levels of mental health comorbidity, and bisexual identity was related to greater rates of substance use disorders and mood disorders. Unique to this study, we found that identity assessed 1 or 2 years prior does not predict current substance disorders, but current identity does. In addition, women who were infected with the human immunodeficiency virus also had higher rates of mental health comorbidity and substance use disorders. Contrary to psychosocial stress theory, racial/ethnic minority status was associated with reduced odds of substance use disorder in this population. Recent homelessness was related to greater risk of anxiety disorder. Conclusions Best research and health care practices should include the assessment of sexual orientation and housing status when addressing risks for mental health and substance disorders among low-income women.
Youth in the child welfare system (child welfare-involved CWI youth) have high documented rates of mental health symptoms and experience significant disparities in mental health care services access ...and engagement. Adolescence is a developmental stage that confers increased likelihood of experiencing mental health symptoms and the emergence of disorders that can persist into adulthood. Despite a high documented need for evidence-based mental health services for CWI youth, coordination between child welfare and mental health service systems to increase access to care remains inadequate, and engagement in mental health services is low. Navigator models developed in the health care field to address challenges of service access, fragmentation, and continuity that affect the quality of care provide a promising approach to increase linkage to, and engagement in, mental health services for CWI youth. However, at present, there is no empirically supported mental health navigator model to address the unique and complex mental health needs of CWI youth and their families.
Using a randomized controlled trial, this study aims to develop and test a foster care family navigator (FCFN) model to improve mental health service outcomes for CWI adolescents (aged 12-17 years).
The navigator model leverages an in-person navigator and use of adjunctive digital health technology to engage with, and improve, care coordination, tracking, and monitoring of mental health service needs for CWI youth and families. In total, 80 caregiver-youth dyads will be randomized to receive either the FCFN intervention or standard of care (clinical case management services): 40 (50%) to FCFN and 40 (50%) to control. Qualitative exit interviews will inform the feasibility and acceptability of the services received during the 6-month period. The primary trial outcomes are mental health treatment initiation and engagement. Other pre- and postservice outcomes, such as proportion screened and time to screening, will also be evaluated. We hypothesize that youth receiving the FCFN intervention will have higher rates of mental health treatment initiation and engagement than youth receiving standard of care.
We propose enrollment of 80 dyads by March 2024, final data collection by September 2024, and the publication of main findings in March 2025. After final data analysis and writing of the results, the resulting manuscripts will be submitted to journals for dissemination.
This study will be the first to produce empirically driven conclusions and recommendations for implementing a family mental health navigation model for CWI youth with long-standing and unaddressed disparities in behavioral health services access. The study findings have potential to have large-scale trial applicability and be feasible and acceptable for eventual system implementation and adoption.
ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04506437; https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04506437.
DERR1-10.2196/49999.
Abstract
Objective: To determine acceptability and preliminary effectiveness of Emergency Department (ED) Social Work Intervention for Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (SWIFT-Acute) on alcohol use, ...community functioning, depression, anxiety, post-concussive symptoms, post-traumatic stress disorder and service use.
Methods: This study enrolled 64 patients who received head CT after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and were discharged <24 hours from a Level 1 trauma centre ED. The cohort study compared outcomes for SWIFT-Acute (n = 32) and Usual Care (n = 32) 3 months post-injury. SWIFT-Acute includes education about symptoms and decreasing alcohol use, coping strategies, reassurance and education about recovery process and follow-up guidelines and resources.
Measures: Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), Community Integration Questionnaire (CIQ), Patient Health Questionnaire-4, Rivermead Post-concussion Symptoms Questionnaire, PTSD Checklist-Civilian, acceptability and service use surveys.
Results: Paired t-test revealed SWIFT-Acute group maintained pre-injury community functioning; Usual Care significantly declined in functioning on the CIQ. Both groups reported 'hazardous' pre-injury drinking on AUDIT. Wilcoxon Signed Rank test showed the SWIFT-Acute group significantly reduced alcohol use; the Usual Care group did not. Both groups significantly increased medical service use. No statistically significant differences were found on other measures. Acceptability ratings were extremely high.
Conclusions: SWIFT-Acute was acceptable to patients. There is preliminary evidence of effectiveness for reducing alcohol use and preventing functional decline. Future randomized studies are needed.
Abstract Objective As a gateway to the mental health system, psychiatric emergency services (PES) are charged with assessing a heterogeneous array of short-term and long-term psychiatric crises. ...However, few studies have examined factors associated with inpatient psychiatric hospitalization following PES in a racially diverse sample. We examine the demographic, service use and clinical factors associated with inpatient hospitalization and differences in predisposing factors by race and ethnicity. Method Three months of consecutive admissions to San Francisco’s only 24-h PES ( N = 1,305) were reviewed. Logistic regression was used to estimate the associations between demographic, service use, and clinical factors and inpatient psychiatric hospitalization. We then estimated separate models for Asians, Blacks, Latinos and Whites. Results Clinical severity was a consistent predictor of hospitalization. However, age, gender, race/ethnicity, homelessness and employment status were all significant related to hospitalization. Alcohol and drug use were associated with lower probability of inpatient admission, however specific substances appear particularly salient for different racial/ethnic groups. Discussion While clinical characteristics played an essential role in disposition decisions, these results point to the importance of factors external to PES. Individual and community factors that affect use of psychiatric emergency services merit additional focused attention.
Abstract Purpose To examine correlates of emergency department (ED) use and hospitalizations in a community-based cohort of homeless and unstably housed women, with a focus on the role of physical ...health and pain. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of baseline survey results from a study of homeless and unstably housed women in San Francisco. Primary outcomes were any self-reported ED visit and inpatient hospitalization over the prior 6 months. Primary independent variables of interest were self-reported physical health status, as measured by the Short Form-12 (SF-12), and bodily pain. Other potential covariates were organized using the Gelberg-Andersen Behavioral Model for Vulnerable Populations. Standard bivariate and multivariable logistic regression techniques were used. Results Three hundred homeless and unstably housed women were included in the study, of whom 37.7% reported having an ED visit and 23.0% reported being hospitalized in the prior 6 months. Mean SF-12 physical health scores indicated poorer than average health compared with the U.S. norm. Most women (79.3%) reported at least some limitation in their daily activities owing to pain. In adjusted analyses, moderate and high levels of bodily pain were significantly correlated with ED visits (odds ratio OR, 2.92 and OR, 2.57) and hospitalizations (OR, 6.13 and OR, 2.49). As SF-12 physical health scores decreased, indicating worse health, the odds of ED use increased. Predisposing, enabling, and additional need factors did not mediate these associations. Conclusions Physical health and bodily pain are important correlates of ED visits and hospitalizations among homeless and unstably housed women. Interventions to reduce ED use among women who are homeless should address the high levels of pain in this population.
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