Testing an Integrated Care Model Trial

Description

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a lifelong condition that requires consistent monitoring and management, increasing people’s risk for common mental disorders that worsen diabetes self-care. Both depression and diabetes can be managed with behavioral interventions, however, they are rarely provided alongside routine diabetes care for people with T1D. In this research study, the investigators aim to evaluate the implementation and effectiveness outcomes of a collaborative care model that uses a Behavioral Health Consultant (BHC) to support lifestyle management among adults with T1D receiving diabetes care at the Grady Diabetes Clinic.

A trained clinical research coordinator will screen interested patients seeking treatment at the Grady Diabetes Center and conduct outreach to individuals who have been identified as having T1D within the Grady Diabetes Center’s patient population.

Participants in the intervention group will engage with a behavioral health consultant (BHC) not affiliated with Grady who will work with them to establish personalized health goals and identify ways to manage stress and promote healthy behaviors as means to support their mental and physical health and meet their set goals (i.e., behavioral activation). Each session will be conducted over the telephone or Zoom and last 30-60 minutes, with the number and frequency of meetings established through discussions between the patient and BHC (typically 2-3 sessions for one year). Checklist and summary case reporting templates will be used to track intervention fidelity. The BHC will also participate in ongoing Zoom calls with the multi-disciplinary T1D clinical team at the Grady Diabetes Center once a month to provide updates on patients’ behavioral health plans. Transitioning patients from the active intervention will involve discussions with the care team to ensure continued patient support. In cases of active suicidal ideation, the study team will notify the patient’s usual diabetes care provider and the individual will be referred to psychiatric services at Grady.