Framing the process in the implementation of care for people with generalized anxiety disorder in primary care: a qualitative evidence synthesis

Demand management processes to improve access to cognitive-behavioral therapies for anxiety disorders: a grounded theory study

Introduction

Anxiety disorders are impactful mental health conditions for which evidence-based treatments are available, notably cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBTs). Even when CBTs are available, demand-side factors limit their access, and actors in a position to perform demand management activities lack a framework to identify context-appropriate actions.

Methods

We conducted a constructivist grounded theory study in Quebec, Canada, to model demand management targets to improve access to CBTs for anxiety disorders. We recruited key informants with diverse experiences using purposeful, then theoretical sampling. We analyzed data from 18 semi-directed interviews and 20 documents through an iterative coding process centered around constant comparison.

Results

The resulting model illustrates how actors can target clinical-administrative processes fulfilling the demand management functions of detection, evaluation, preparation, and referral to help patients progress on the path of access to CBTs.

Discussion

Modeling clinical-administrative processes is a promising approach to facilitate leveraging the competency of actors involved in demand management at the local level to benefit public mental health.

Barriers and Facilitating Factors of Adherence to Antidepressant Treatments: An Exploratory Qualitative Study with Patients and Psychiatrists

This study examines the experiences and expectations of patients with depressive disorders regarding the disease and different antidepressants, as well as examining the barriers and facilitating factors that could affect their adherence to medications. An exploratory qualitative study was carried out. The study involved two focus groups made up of patients and caregivers and six semi-structured interviews with psychiatrists. In both cases, the participants were selected by intentional theoretical sampling, seeking maximum significance variation of social types. Prejudice about the side effects of medication was relevant. The importance of patients being well informed about the disease/treatments was noteworthy. The stigmatization of antidepressants by patients was identified as a barrier to medication adherence. The involvement of family members and the motivation of patients to be actively involved in the process to recover from the disease were identified as facilitating factors. The work carried out suggests the need for patients to have rigorous information about the disease/treatment to reduce the possible prejudices generated by beliefs. Maintaining greater contact and monitoring of patients/caregivers to help therapeutic adherence in patients with depressive disorders was also identified as being of great importance.

Decision aids linked to the recommendations in clinical practice guidelines: results of the acceptability of a decision aid for patients with generalized anxiety disorder

Background

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is one of the most prevalent mental health problems. Patients with GAD have unmet needs related to the information received about their disorder, its treatments and their participation in the decision-making process. The aim of this study is to develop and assess the acceptability of a patient decision aid (PtDA) for patients with GAD.

Method

The PtDA was developed following the International Patient Decision Aid Standards. The recommendations of the Spanish clinical practice guideline (CPG) for patients with GAD were used as the basis. The first prototype was developed by an expert committee, further improvements were made with patients (n = 2), clinical experts (n = 13) and the project management group (n = 7). The acceptability of this second draft was assessed by patients non-involved in the previous phases (n = 11).

Results

The final PtDA version included a brief description of GAD and its treatments. Most participants agreed that the PtDA was easy to use, visually appealing and useful. At least half of the participants learned new things about treatments and adverse effects.

Conclusions

A PtDA was developed for patients with GAD based on recommendations from the Spanish CPG. It was improved and accepted by patients and clinical experts involved. An evaluation of its effectiveness on the shared decision-making process during the clinical encounter is planned.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12911-022-01899-2.