Investigating the Effectiveness of Telepsychiatry for Treating Major Depression in a Chinese American Nursing Home

Overview

The current use of telepsychiatry, or psychiatric care using videoconferencing, is very limited. The present study investigates the use of this method with a depressed Chinese American population in a nursing home. It is believed that this population can benefit from telepsychiatric treatment when used in collaboration with the primary care they receive in the nursing home.

Full Title of Study: “Feasibility and Effectiveness of Telepsychiatry for Collaborative Management of Chinese Americans With Psychiatric Disorders in a Nursing Home”

Study Type

  • Study Type: Interventional
  • Study Design
    • Allocation: N/A
    • Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
    • Primary Purpose: Treatment
    • Masking: None (Open Label)
  • Study Primary Completion Date: November 2007

Detailed Description

Individuals at the South Cove Manor nursing home will be referred to this study if they are experiencing depression. After meeting with the Principal Investigator (a psychiatrist), he will collaborate with the primary care physician and the nursing home staff to establish a treatment plan for the patient. Videoconferencing will be used by the P.I. for regular psychiatric visits with the patient as well as meetings with the nursing home staff to coordinate care for the patient. After collaboration between the two groups, treatment suggestions will be given to the patient's primary care physician (PCP) to implement in the primary care setting. The patient's symptomology, mood, satisfaction of life and side effects of medication will be recorded regularly to measure the effects of treatment for analysis.

Interventions

  • Drug: Psychotropic medication (at discretion of psychiatrist)
    • Antidepressant medication, prescribed at discretion of psychiatrist
  • Behavioral: Collaborative psychiatric and primary medical care
    • Regular care visits from health workers

Clinical Trial Outcome Measures

Primary Measures

  • Change in Mean Scores on Clinical Global Impressions
    • Time Frame: Baseline, 30 days or 60 days (length depended on clinical needs of patients)
    • Minimum score – 1 (better outcome) Maximum score – 7 (worse outcome)
  • Patient/Family Telepsychiatry Service Satisfaction Survey
    • Time Frame: 30 days or 60 days (length depended on clinical needs of patients)
    • Patients’ (or their family members’ for those who had severe cognitive deficits) satisfaction with the telepsychiatry services were surveyed using a satisfaction questionnaire specifically designed for this study. The satisfaction questionnaire is a scale with three choices: “not satisfied”, “satisfied”, and “highly satisfied.”
  • Nurse Telepsychiatry Services Satisfaction Questionnaire
    • Time Frame: 30 days or 60 days (length depended on clinical needs of patients)
    • The charge nurse’s satisfaction with the telepsychiatry services were surveyed using a satisfaction questionnaire specifically designed for this study. The satisfaction questionnaire is a scale with three choices: “not satisfied”, “satisfied”, and “highly satisfied.”

Participating in This Clinical Trial

Inclusion Criteria

  • Clinical diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder – Patient at South Cove Manor Nursing Home – Referred by nursing staff for psychiatric consultation Exclusion Criteria:

  • Not competent to participate in psychiatric interviews

Gender Eligibility: All

Minimum Age: 18 Years

Maximum Age: N/A

Are Healthy Volunteers Accepted: No

Investigator Details

  • Lead Sponsor
    • Massachusetts General Hospital
  • Provider of Information About this Clinical Study
    • Principal Investigator: Albert Yeung, Principal Investigator – Massachusetts General Hospital
  • Overall Official(s)
    • Albert Yeung, S., M.D., Principal Investigator, Massachusetts General Hospital

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