Assessment of Physical Illness by Mental Health Clinicians During Intake Visits

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study explored how mental health clinicians assess and respond to physical illness among patients presenting for mental health intake evaluations. METHODS: A total of 129 adults were seen for a mental health intake visit. The intake visits were videotaped and involved 47 mental health clinicians from eight clinics who provided outpatient mental health and substance abuse treatment. A total of 120 videos of patient-provider interactions were coded using an information checklist containing 21 physical illness items. Twenty-eight intake visits exemplifying in-depth physical illness assessments were selected and transcribed for qualitative analysis. RESULTS: Physical health was discussed in most intake visits (87%). Clinicians elicited information on physical health in 79 visits (66%), and patients volunteered such information in 80 visits (67%). Frequency of assessment differed by clinician discipline (p