INTRODUCTION:Although the integration of mental health services is widely accepted as important in primary care, the benefits for specialty medical care are less clear. This systematic review aimed to assess evidence on whether mental or behavioral health integration into specialty care can improve patient and health service delivery outcomes. METHODS:We searched MEDLINE and APA PsycInfo from 2014 to 2024. We also hand-searched reference lists, consulted content experts, and used an artificial intelligence function (DistillerSR). Studies were included if they met the following criteria: (a) adult patients in specialty medical care with co-occurring behavioral health conditions; (b) use of approaches or models for integration of mental/behavioral health; (c) comparison with usual care or alternative approaches; and (d) reporting patient and health service delivery outcomes. RESULTS:We reviewed 39 studies (out of 6,392 identified titles), yielding 17 original research articles (describing 15 integrations). Based on the Center for Integrated Health Solutions framework, we found only one published study describing full collaboration in an integrated practice (Level 6). We assessed one study at Level 5, seven studies at Level 4, five studies at Level 3, and one study at Level 2. Outcomes of interest and intervention characteristics varied greatly across studies, making it difficult to draw comparisons. DISCUSSION:There is insufficient evidence from the published literature on how best to integrate mental/behavioral health services into specialty care. Additional research remains necessary to confirm any promising early findings. Future studies could be strengthened by aligning outcomes and providing more detail on integration processes. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
INTRODUCTION:Brief intervention frameworks can support health professionals to motivate patients to adopt lifestyle changes. In New South Wales, Australia, health services use the 5As (ask, assess, advise, assist, and arrange) framework to address unhealthy lifestyles and overweight and obesity in children. This study assessed health professionals' adherence to the 5As framework and factors influencing families' perceptions and propensity to adopt lifestyle changes. METHODS:This observational, cross-sectional study analyzed data from electronic medical records and caregiver surveys from a regional health service in New South Wales, Australia, over 12 months from June 2022 to May 2023. RESULTS:Of n = 461 caregivers who completed valid surveys, 64.9% reported their child received a growth assessment, but only 6.3% received the full 5As framework. Children under 4 years, those attending a community health service, and those with a healthy weight were most likely to receive the complete 5As framework. In contrast, children over 13 years, those attending an emergency department and those with obesity were least likely. Reported adherence with the 5As framework influenced caregivers' perceptions and reported intervention impact. DISCUSSION:Children routinely received growth assessments, but many families did not receive subsequent steps of the 5As framework. Improving health professional adherence to the framework is necessary for promoting behavior change. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
INTRODUCTION:Family planning is a dyadic decision influenced by social, cultural, and structural factors. However, contraceptive counseling in perinatal care often centers on pregnant individuals alone, potentially overlooking the critical role of partner involvement. This qualitative study explored health care providers' (HCPs) perceptions of involving partners in perinatal contraceptive education to understand the potential value and challenges of dyadic approaches, guided by the biobehavioral family model. METHOD:Ten HCPs (including physicians, nurse practitioners, and community health directors) serving low-income populations in Appalachian Tennessee participated in semistructured interviews. The interviews focused on their perceptions of the Planning Together intervention, a dyadic workbook designed to integrate contraceptive education with couple communication training for pregnant couples. Interview transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS:Four primary themes emerged from the analysis: (a) strengths and challenges of partner involvement, (b) importance of couple communication training, (c) ensuring patient-centeredness, and (d) continued need for information. Providers endorsed dyadic approaches as valuable for fostering partner buy-in and consistent contraceptive use. DISCUSSION:Findings underscore the potential of family-centered contraceptive education to improve relational dynamics and health outcomes. However, they also highlight significant logistical (e.g., appointment attendance) and relational barriers that must be addressed. The study indicates a need for HCP training in dyadic communication skills and for e-health literacy interventions to combat misinformation. By demonstrating how relational dynamics shape contraceptive behaviors, this study advances the biobehavioral family model and offers practical strategies for integrating partners into perinatal care. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
OBJECTIVE:Mobile health (mHealth) applications can extend behavioral health care in integrated primary care (IPC), yet clinician adoption is inconsistent. This mixed-methods study examined IPC clinicians' attitudes toward mHealth apps, identified adopter profiles, and explored contextual factors shaping behavioral intention. METHOD:We surveyed 69 clinicians using the technology acceptance model and the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology. Survey results analysis used k-means clustering to identify adopter profiles. Semistructured interviews with a purposive subsample (n = 10) explored perceived benefits, barriers, and implementation needs. We integrated quantitative and qualitative results using joint displays. RESULTS:Two clusters emerged: Enthusiasts (n = 25) and Skeptics (n = 44). Enthusiasts scored higher on behavioral intention and facilitating conditions. Interviews contextualized these differences: Enthusiasts emphasized clinical fit and workflow solutions (e.g., electronic health record integration and digital navigator roles), whereas Skeptics cited liability, relational concerns, and equity barriers (e.g., device access and digital literacy). Both groups endorsed apps as adjunctive rather than replacement tools. Mixed-methods integration highlighted actionable strategies: boundary-setting norms, curated app formularies, and equity-first implementation. CONCLUSION:Adoption of mHealth in IPC depends less on persuasion than on enabling technical, organizational, and ethical conditions that preserve relational care and promote equity. Findings identify Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research-aligned strategies that strengthen team coordination and family-centered equity in IPC. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
INTRODUCTION:Autism spectrum disorder is more prevalent in children with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) than the general population, and autistic children with T1D encounter additional challenges compared with children with either condition alone. This presents unique challenges for their caregivers, and key models emphasize the need for the expansion of social networks to support caregivers and improve their physical and mental health. The present study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of a psychoeducation compassion-focused therapy (CFT)-based program developed for caregivers of autistic children with T1D. METHOD:A total of 11 caregivers attended the program, delivered by an assistant psychologist and trainee clinical psychologist (both English-speaking), which included three 90-min psychoeducation workshops utilizing CFT principles to target caregivers' specific needs. Feasibility was evaluated using recruitment, attendance, retention, and data completion metrics, and a thematic analysis was completed on qualitative data collected in August 2023 from seven participants (six mothers and one grandmother). RESULTS:The thematic analysis developed five themes, including perceived value from peer support, gaining knowledge, developing coping skills, managing emotional states, and long-term peer support. The metrics related to recruitment, attendance, and retention supported the feasibility of program delivery, along with moderate feasibility for research data collection. DISCUSSION:The findings offer evidence for the feasibility of delivering the psychoeducation CFT-based program within U.K. health care services and perceived benefits in social support, well-being, and self-efficacy, which reflects the perceived usefulness and appropriateness of the program to the participants. Further research is required to improve data collection procedures and evaluate program effectiveness. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
INTRODUCTION:Historical disparities in maternal and infant health, exacerbated over the COVID-19 pandemic, necessitate investment in a systematic and community-based approach to dyadic care. NewYork-Presbyterian sought to build an innovative, 2-generation program integrating obstetric, pediatric, behavioral health, and community services. METHOD:This report outlines the development of the Maternal and Child Integrated Mental Health Program (MAC-IMP) from 2020 to 2024, utilizing the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework, informed by deidentified patient data collected during this period. RESULTS:Through multidisciplinary collaboration, data and health record optimization, risk stratification, and comprehensive service alignment, an equitable and patient-centered model was developed. DISCUSSION:Lessons learned include methods for multisystem clinical and administrative coordination, communication, and community-partnership building. These lessons can be adapted for multispecialty health care systems across the country to build a more patient-centered, preventative, and holistic model of maternal and infant care. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
OBJECTIVE:This study aims to assess whether who patients report as their primary family support person is linked to diabetes self-efficacy and disease severity. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHOD:A total of 177 Latino/a patients with type 2 diabetes completed surveys regarding diabetes-related family support, diabetes self-efficacy, and self-management behaviors. Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) was collected from each patient's medical record. Associations were analyzed using multivariate analysis of covariance and analysis of covariance. RESULTS:Patients without a support person had significantly higher HbA1c values. These patients reported receiving significantly less diabetes-related support than patients with a spouse, parent/sibling, or son/daughter support person. This lack of support person created a significant support deficit for these patients. Patients with a spouse support person reported significantly greater diabetes self-efficacy than patients with a parent/sibling, son/daughter, or no support person. CONCLUSIONS:Patients without family support may be at risk of worse outcomes, and certain sources of family support may be tied to diabetes self-efficacy. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
INTRODUCTION:Research indicates that siblings of children with chronic health conditions (CHCs) are a vulnerable population that faces various challenges, and interventions have been developed to mitigate the potential for adverse outcomes. This systematic review evaluated the efficacy of interventions developed for siblings of children with CHCs across a wide spectrum of outcomes. METHOD:A systematic search of APA PsycInfo, PubMed, and Scopus was conducted in September 2023 to review the literature on interventions for siblings (birth to 18 years old) of children with physical or mental CHCs. Inclusion criteria consisted of online and in-person interventions, controlled and uncontrolled studies, and the assessment of at least one sibling outcome. The Effective Public Health Practice Project Quality Assessment Tool was used to assess study bias. RESULTS:Twenty-one studies covering 19 interventions were included, with a total of 1,627 participants and over 17 childhood chronic illnesses. Results from the review evidenced support in improvements in sibling self-esteem (n = 6), social support (n = 2), knowledge of illness (n = 9), and internalizing and externalizing symptoms (n = 10) postintervention. There were no remarkable differences between interventions for siblings of children with physical, mental, or a combination of CHCs. DISCUSSION:The evidence largely indicates that interventions for siblings can be beneficial across a range of outcomes. Nonetheless, there were some inconsistencies in findings, which likely were an artifact of the variability in study designs, the diversity of interventions, and poor study methodologies. The findings highlight the need for well-designed intervention studies for their effective integration into clinical practice. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
Sandy Blount's Opinion piece in this issue of Family, Systems, & Health is worthy of a slow and thoughtful read (see record 2027-80995-002). What if we acted on his assertion that "mind and body are different realms of description rather than different entities"? Blount notes that the mind-body dichotomy doesn't fit what we see. Indeed, when we are not wearing reductionist hats as scientist, health care organizer, or clinician-when we just see and act as regular human beings-we seldom divide people into mind or body. We start with the whole. Our mental model is holistic (Lynch et al., 2022, 2023; Scott et al., 2009; Stewart et al., 2013). Blount says, "So much of what we need to understand doesn't fit neatly into these two realms of description" (Blount, 2026). (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
Resilience is a poem about the unraveling of memory in Alzheimer's disease. Using medical images alongside personal encounters, it explores how physicians, patients, and families perceive memory loss differently. The poem suggests that resilience is not defeating the disease but finding meaning in its slow erasure. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
For clinicians working in primary care and behavioral health settings, the opportunity is clear: Integrated care models have the potential to transform how we engage and support patients with substance use disorders (SUD), bringing meaningful, low-barrier care to the clinic exam room. By combining evidence-based practice with patient-centered approaches and diverse care teams, primary care can become a more effective-and more accessible-entry point for recovery-oriented care. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
Integrated care provides a laboratory for transcending the mind/body dichotomy that has both empowered and limited health care for a few hundred years. By "integrated care," I mean a process made up of roles, routines of interaction, and ways of understanding that arises from the working relationship between medically trained clinicians, behaviorally trained clinicians, other care team members, and patients. The mind/body dichotomy may be useful for facilitating science, but it does not fit how we experience human beings, who present themselves as unified entities. That is because the difference between mind and body is a function of the observer, not of the phenomena being observed. "Mind" and "body" are different realms of description rather than different entities. To understand the difficulty of transcending the dichotomy, as well as to conceive of a pathway to that goal, requires an understanding of the dynamics of "mental models." Mental models are one element in the evolution of expertise in a domain of practice. The others are roles that are a part of enacting the expertise and routines in behavior or interaction to deliver the expertise. Understanding these elements as interacting allows us to purposefully impact the mental models of the workforce, and to use the roles and behaviors we have developed to deliver the new expertise that is integrated care to find an articulation of a transformative new model. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
The author offers advice for physicians, to take time to talk with colleagues. Brief moments of connection at the end of the day will share wisdom, provide support, and sustain us for the long run. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
Sandy Blount's opinion piece (see record 2027-80995-002) thoughtfully invites us to examine mental models we use in the practice of integrated behavioral health. He wisely draws our attention to the Senge definition of mental model as "a deeply held internal image of how the world works in a domain, and often below our level of awareness" (p. 117). The current author wants to invite conversation on Blount's premise that mind and body are different realms of description, not different entities, and suggest that still leaves room to productively employ "medical-behavioral" and other contrasting perspectives or dualities in integrated care. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
Reviews the book, Random Acts of Medicine: The Hidden Forces That Sway Doctors, Impact Patients, and Shape Our Health by Anupam B. Jena and Christopher Worsham (2023). In an era increasingly defined by calls for value-based care and health care equity, this book offers timely and significant insights. By using randomness as an investigative lens, the book uncovers otherwise hidden inefficiencies and disparities in health care systems, making a strong case for reform that is both evidence-based and equitable. Blending empirical rigor with accessible prose, the authors offer a data-driven exploration of medical randomness, drawing on natural experiments to reveal both vulnerabilities and opportunities within health care delivery. Jena and Worsham define medical randomness to be any unpredictable or variable moment or chance event that affects the medical care physicians give and receive. The authors then design natural experiments from these events, including examining the effect of a child's birthdate on families' influenza incidence and the impact of major medical conferences on patient care outcomes. Chapters are organized thematically, with each section presenting lenses through which to view how natural experiments can be analyzed to expose and learn from systemic flaws in health care delivery. A few of the themes explored include physician decision making and training variability, structural and financial inequities in care, and barriers to acquiring timely and convenient care. The intended audience includes clinicians, health systems leaders, and policymakers interested in optimizing health care through empirical inquiry. However, the book's clarity and real-world examples make it equally valuable to students in public health and economics, as well as a broader lay audience interested in how health care operates behind the scenes. While technical in scope, the work remains grounded in real-world implications, making it a compelling read for clinicians, policymakers, and system-level leaders alike. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
Presents a poem about professional issues and delivering health care to the individual. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
This poetic piece explores the lived experience of nursing through vivid moments of care, vulnerability, and human connection. Using imagery and reflection, it captures the physical and emotional demands of the profession: working through fatigue, balancing presence with boundaries, and offering small but profound acts of comfort and kindness. By evoking the sights, sounds, and sensations of nursing practice, the poem conveys the pride, conflict, and meaning found in everyday encounters with patients and families. While the focus of this poetic expression piece is on nursing, this piece can resonate with other health care providers who provide patient facing care and services as appoint of reflection about their own professional lived experiences. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
As the field moves to implement primary care behavioral health (PCBH), which includes a team of health professionals like primary care providers (PCPs) and behavioral health consultants (BHCs) working in sync, it is critical to understand the operational and financial ins and outs of the model (Funderburk et al., 2021; Peek, 2008). There are unintended consequences connected to our gaps in knowledge about PCBH staffing ratios, including challenges in estimating integrated behavioral health care workforce needs and difficulty forecasting the financial aspects of PCBH needed for sustainability (Jones et al., 2024; Serrano, 2022). We know PCBH improves population health outcomes, and it is crucial to understand the human and financial resources needed within different practice settings to support diverse patient populations so that the model can be effectively, efficiently, and equitably implemented and integrated into primary care practice. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).
