Site Matters: Winning the Hearts and Minds of Patients in a Cardiology Clinic

BackgroundIn medical care settings, mental health symptoms of depression and distress are associated with poor medical outcomes, yet they are often underrecognized.ObjectiveAuthors sought to examine the effect of having immediate mental-health screening in the cardiology clinic.MethodThe Patient Health Questionnaire and the Impact of Event Scale were used to screen for depression and distress in 316 patients at an urban cardiology clinic. Because of poor follow-up rates, a psychiatrist was placed on the premises of the cardiology clinic to facilitate referrals.ResultsPlacing a psychiatrist within the cardiology clinic significantly improved the rate of successful referrals.ConclusionBecause 45 patients (14%) endorsed suicidal thoughts, authors conclude that mental health screening programs should include an immediate evaluation by a clinician.