Symptom targeted intervention (STI)

Symptom targeted intervention (STI) is a therapeutic model and clinical program that social workers and other mental health practitioners and medical professionals can use to assist patients with chronic diseases who are having difficulty coping, including those suffering from emotional distress, depression, anxiety, poor engagement and poor clinical outcomes.

Using STI, the clinician helps the patient identify the most problematic symptom of the depression (such as depressed mood, insomnia, anxiety, rumination, irritability, negative thinking, social isolation), then together the clinician and patient address that symptom using STI’s evidence-based selection of brief cognitive, behavioral, and mindfulness techniques. The emphasis is on keeping interactions brief since mental health treatment in the primary care setting is typically time limited[1]—although the Collaborative Care and Integrated Care models provides hope for improved and expanded mental health services in the primary care setting.[2] STI's unique engagement process ensures that even challenging, at-risk, and non-adherent patients are likely to participate.

As patients learn better coping skills, they become more engaged with their treatment and more adherent to doctors’ recommendations.

Origins

Melissa McCool, creator of STI

STI was created in 2009 by licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) Melissa McCool to give clinicians a toolkit for helping depressed patients who cannot or will not seek outpatient psychotherapy.[3] McCool originally developed STI for patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Patients with ESRD and other chronic diseases often suffer from depression[4] and it often goes undiagnosed.[5] Studies suggest that at least 25% of dialysis patients have clinical depression and at least 35% have symptoms that put them at risk for depression.[6] Additionally, for a variety of reasons, patients who are suffering mentally and physically from depression often go untreated.[7] Social workers using STI with ESRD patients have reported promising outcomes.[8]

The intellectual premise for STI is based on systems theory, which considers a system as a set of interacting and independent parts. If depression is a system consisting of various symptoms, when one of the symptoms improves, the entire trajectory of the depressive episode is transformed.[9] In this sense, STI is related to Bowen’s systemic theory and its interactional dynamics.[10] Using STI, the patient and clinician focus on one element, or symptom, helping the patient avoid feeling overwhelmed[11] by multiple problems.[12] The parallel process is also in effect: Clinicians may be similarly overwhelmed by attempting to tackle multiple symptoms in their depressed patients.[13]

Also central to STI is the cognitive triangle, which illustrates how one’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are all interconnected and dependent upon one another. If a behavior changes, thoughts and feelings change; if a thought changes, behaviors and feelings change.[14]

STI Innovations logo

STI has been expanded beyond ESRD to support the many patients who are suffering from depression who receive treatment for chronic disease in outpatient clinics,[15] hospitals, nursing homes or rehabilitation centers.[16] Kaiser Permanente is now using STI as the main treatment modality in its Collaborative Care study.[17]

Impact

A review of treatments for anxiety and depression in dialysis patients cited STI as an economical way to alleviate depression using brief, in-clinic sessions.[18] A review that considered measures of quality of life in patients with ESRD noted that STI’s techniques are promising and productive.[19] STI was included in a 2013 review of best practices for effective screening and managing depression in dialysis patients.[20]

In a 2014 article about ways that social workers can ease chronically ill patients’ burdens and effectively address their emotional challenges, Joseph R. Merighi, PhD, MSW, an associate professor at the University of Minnesota School of Social Work, describes STI as “an innovative, brief, and patient-centered approach that modifies cognitive, behavioral, and mindfulness techniques to make them user-friendly for patients and brief in their delivery.” The article’s author adds that STI is “used by the leading dialysis providers and has become the standard of care.”[21]

STI is now being used by medical social workers in a range of settings across the United States, who have reported positive results.[22] To teach social workers STI’s techniques, trainings are held across the country, led by Ms. McCool and her colleagues, in person as well as through online webinars. Nephrology social workers who participated in a 2014 study of the effectiveness of STI webinar trainings found the trainings to be very useful and wanted them to continue.[23]

STI is used by medical practices and accountable care organizations (ACOs) for population health management and in Integrated Care and Chronic Care. STI provides curriculum, training, clinical assessment tools, and treatment plans for these organizations through 20 min win, a system that allows patient issues, identified in required biopsychosocial care plans, to be addressed in 20-minute sessions.

Research

In 2011, STI was assessed by nephrology social workers in 17 states.[24][25] Results suggested that STI further enhances existing social work skills in identifying, treating, and tracking outcomes of patient issues requiring clinical intervention. Most of the social workers spent 1.5 hours over a six-week period using STI to address symptoms of depression with a patient. This short period of intervention led to a reported improvement in physical component summary and mental component summary scores (part of the Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) patient evaluation[26]) in 51% and 64% of patients, respectively, and improvement in CES-D scores in 72.1% of patients. In 2013, a pilot program showed that using STI's techniques helped increase patients' adherence to treatment recommendations.[27]

A 2013 study with DaVita Clinical Research, published at the National Kidney Foundation meeting in April 2014, showed statistically significant improvements in quality of life and depression scores for patients receiving STI. There were 91 participants in the study. Statistically significant improvement occurred in KDQOL-36 mental component scores (p < 0.001), physical component scores (p = 0.042), as well as burden (p < 0.001) and effects (p = 0.001) domain scores. Statistically significant improvement also occurred in patients' CES-D 10 scores (p < 0.001).[28]

In an ongoing study conducted by Fresenius Medical Care, the use of STI, along with other clinical interventions, was shown to decrease missed treatments, decrease hospitalizations and improve quality of life indicators and depression scores. The baseline number of missed treatment rate (per month) was 1.7 (±1.3) vs. 0.9 (±1.0) post-intervention (p < 0.0001). The number of hospitalization was 0.4 (±0.8) vs. 0.2 (±0.8) per month for pre- and post-intervention, respectively, (p = 0.07). Significant improvement was found in CES-D 10 and KDQOL-36 domain scores except for physical component scores. Sleep-quality barriers and stressors also indicated significant improvement (except for restless legs and stressors related to health symptoms or loss/grief). Preliminary results indicated that an intensive social worker-initiated intervention program was able to reduce unexcused missed treatments in the short term (three months). Indicators of quality of life and well-being that potentially contributed to the non-adherent behavior also improved, which may help sustain the favorable results over the long term.[29]

Results of a 2015 study by Ms. McCool and colleagues at DaVita HealthCare Partners suggested that implementation of a social worker-based STI clinical program targeting improved quality of life for in-center hemodialysis patients led to health improvements due to increased adherence to the prescribed dialysis treatment regimen in the least-compliant patients.[30] A poster presenting the results received best poster award at the National Kidney Foundation spring 2015 meeting. A pilot study using STI with transplant patients at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh was completed in 2014, and a poster presenting the results was included in the British Renal Society's annual meeting in July 2015.[31]

Further studies are under way on the effectiveness of STI in patients with a variety of chronic diseases. There is an ongoing multi-center IRB approved research study on The Use of Symptom Targeted Intervention (STI) with solid organ transplant recipients involving the University of Maryland, University of Utah and University of Minnesota.

References

  1. ↑ Bortolotti, Biancamaria; Menchetti, Marco; Bellini, Francesca; Montaguti, Milena Barbara; Berardi, Domenico (2008). "Psychological interventions for major depression in primary care: A meta-analytic review of randomized controlled trials". General Hospital Psychiatry 30 (4): 293–302. doi:10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2008.04.001. PMID 18585531.
  2. ↑ Gilbody, S.; Whitty, P; Grimshaw, J; Thomas, R (2003). "Educational and Organizational Interventions to Improve the Management of Depression in Primary Care: A Systematic Review". JAMA 289 (23): 3145–51. doi:10.1001/jama.289.23.3145. PMID 12813120.
  3. ↑ Roberts, J; Johnstone, S (2006). "Screening and treating depression: Patient preferences and implications for social workers". Nephrology news & issues 20 (13): 43, 47–9. PMID 17168058.
  4. ↑ Finkelstein, Fredric O; Wuerth, Diane; Troidle, Laura K; Finkelstein, Susan H (2008). "Depression and end-stage renal disease: A therapeutic challenge". Kidney International 74 (7): 843–5. doi:10.1038/ki.2008.222. PMID 18794813.
  5. ↑ Kimmel, Paul L (2002). "Depression in patients with chronic renal disease". Journal of Psychosomatic Research 53 (4): 951–6. doi:10.1016/S0022-3999(02)00310-0. PMID 12377308.
  6. ↑ Boulware, L. E.; Liu, Y; Fink, NE; Coresh, J; Ford, DE; Klag, MJ; Powe, NR (2006). "Temporal Relation among Depression Symptoms, Cardiovascular Disease Events, and Mortality in End-Stage Renal Disease: Contribution of Reverse Causality". Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology 1 (3): 496–504. doi:10.2215/CJN.00030505. PMID 17699251.
  7. ↑ Watnick, Suzanne; Kirwin, Paul; Mahnensmith, Rex; Concato, John (2003). "The prevalence and treatment of depression among patients starting dialysis". American Journal of Kidney Diseases 41 (1): 105–10. doi:10.1053/ajkd.2003.50029. PMID 12500227.
  8. ↑ Dziegielewski, Sophia F. (2013). The changing face of health care social work: Opportunities and challenges for professional practice, p. 243. New York: Springer Publishing Company. ISBN 978-0-8261-1942-1
  9. ↑ Hayes, Adele M.; Strauss, Jennifer L. (1998). "Dynamic systems theory as a paradigm for the study of change in psychotherapy: An application to cognitive therapy for depression". Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 66 (6): 939–47. doi:10.1037/0022-006X.66.6.939. PMID 9874907.
  10. ↑ Dallos, R; Draper, R (2010). An introduction to family therapy: systemic theory and practice. Open University Press. p. 34. ISBN 978-0-335-23801-9. External link in |title= (help)
  11. ↑ Watkins, Ed; Baracaia, Simona (2002). "Rumination and social problem-solving in depression". Behaviour Research and Therapy 40 (10): 1179–89. doi:10.1016/S0005-7967(01)00098-5. PMID 12375726.
  12. ↑ Scheurich, A.; Fellgiebel, A.; Schermuly, I.; Bauer, S.; Wölfges, R.; Müller, M. J. (2007). "Experimental evidence for a motivational origin of cognitive impairment in major depression". Psychological Medicine 38 (2). doi:10.1017/S0033291707002206.
  13. ↑ Formica, Michael J. (2009). "The me in you: parallel process in psychotherapy". Psychology Today.
  14. ↑ Beck, JS (1995). Cognitive therapy: Basics and beyond. Guilford Press. ISBN 978-0-89862-847-0. External link in |title= (help)
  15. ↑ McQuaid, JR; Stein, MB; Laffaye, C; McCahill, ME (1999). "Depression in a primary care clinic: The prevalence and impact of an unrecognized disorder". Journal of Affective Disorders 55 (1): 1–10. doi:10.1016/S0165-0327(98)00191-8. PMID 10512600.
  16. ↑ Zheng, D; MacEra, CA; Croft, JB; Giles, WH; Davis, D; Scott, WK (1997). "Major depression and all-cause mortality among white adults in the United States". Annals of Epidemiology 7 (3): 213–8. doi:10.1016/S1047-2797(97)00014-8. PMID 9141645.
  17. ↑ Johnstone, Stephanie (2013). "Helping patients manage treatment recommendations". Renal Business Today: 3.
  18. ↑ Feroze Usama, Martin David, Kalantar-Zadeh Kamyar, Kim Jun Chul, Reina-Patton Astrid, Kopple Joel D (2012). "Anxiety and depression in maintenance dialysis patients: Preliminary data of a cross-sectional study and brief literature review". Journal of Renal Nutrition 22 (1): 207–10. doi:10.1053/j.jrn.2011.10.009.
  19. ↑ Naik Nimish, Hess Rachel, Unruh Mark (2012). "Measurement of health-related quality of life in the care of patients with ESRD: Isn't this the metric that matters?". Seminars in Dialysis 25 (4): 439–44. doi:10.1111/j.1525-139X.2012.01110.x.
  20. ↑ Erdley, Shiloh D. (2013) "Problem-solving therapy for depressed older hemodialysis patients: A pilot randomized trial". Doctorate in Social Work (DSW) Dissertations Paper 33.
  21. ↑ Jackson Kate (2014). "Nephrology Social Work: Caring for the Emotional Needs of Dialysis Patients". Social Work Today 14 (5): 20.
  22. ↑ Scotto, Pandora (2012) "Symptom Targeted Intervention: a worthwhile venture for both patient and social worker," RenaLink.
  23. ↑ McCool, Melissa; Boyd, Shaun; Aebel-Groesch, Kathy; Gonzalez, Teresa; Evans, Deborah (2014) "Symptom targeted intervention webinar trainings: Feedback from participants". Nephrology News and Issues, June 2014.
  24. ↑ McCool, Melissa; Johnstone, Stephanie; Sledge, Renata; Witten, Beth; Contillo, Michelle; Aebel-Groesch, Kathryn; Hafner, Jim (2011). "The promise of symptom-targeted intervention to manage depression in dialysis patients—part 1". Nephrology News and Issues 25 (6): 32–7. PMID 21608458.
  25. ↑ Sledge Renata, Aebel-Groesch Kathryn, McCool Melissa, Johnstone Stephanie, Witten Beth, Contillo M, Hafner James. "The promise of Symptom Targeted Intervention (STI) in improving mood and quality of life outcomes in dialysis patients—part 2" Nephrology News and Issues 25 (7): 24–31.
  26. ↑ 36-Item Short Form Survey from the RAND Medical Outcomes Study
  27. ↑ Johnstone, Stephanie (2013). "Helping patients manage treatment recommendations". Renal Business Today.
  28. ↑ Boyd S, Dunn D, Aebel-Groesch K, Evans D, Gonzalez T, Burgess M, Howard T, Mutell R, McCool M (2014). "Treating depression in the dialysis setting: validating Symptom Targeted Intervention". DaVita Healthcare Partners Inc./STI Innovations.
  29. ↑ Johnstone S, Li N, Maddux F, Weissman-Hunt A, Quintana D, Lacson Jr. E (2014) "Social worker-driven program to reduce hemodialysis therapy non-adherence". Fresenius Medical Care North America.
  30. ↑ Boyd S, Aebel-Groesch K, Dunn D, Remington J, McCool M, Benner D. "Symptom Targeted Intervention Decreased Missed Treatment in Hemodialysis Patients". National Kidney Foundation Spring Clinical Meeting, Charlotte, NC, March 2015.
  31. ↑ McCool M, Rathjen M, Boyd B (2015) "Qualitative pilot study on the value of Symptom Targeted Intervention (STI) in decreasing symptoms of depression and anxiety with renal and transplant patients, Royal Infirmary Edinburgh". British Renal Society Annual Conference.

External links

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