Integrated/Collaborative Care Outcomes: Lessons Learned and Future Directions

The integration of mental health into primary care represented a pivotal shift in improving mental health outcomes globally, following the publication of “Integrating Mental Health into Primary Care: A Global Perspective" in 2008. This approach is based on the recognition that mental health and physical health are closely linked and that addressing them together can lead to a better outcome for patients.

Integrated/collaborative care model aim to create a cost-effective opportunity to increase access to care, enhance mental health care and improve the outcomes of comorbid physical conditions. As integrated and collaborative care models continue to develop, they offer promising pathways to address the complex needs of patients, improve outcomes, and make mental health services more accessible and effective across diverse settings. This Research Topic aims to critically evaluate the effectiveness, challenges and future directions of these models.

Topics of interest include (but are not limited to):

- Integrated/Collaborative Care and Matched Care: Exploring the effectiveness of matched care approaches within integrated systems.
- Integrated/Collaborative Care and Care of the Elderly: Assessing the outcomes and challenges of delivering integrated care to the older adult population.
- Integrated/Collaborative Care for Young People: Investigating the impact of collaborative care models on the mental health of young people, including adolescents and young people .
- Integrated/Collaborative Care in Antenatal/Perinatal Care: Evaluating the integration of mental health services in antenatal and perinatal care settings, and its effects on maternal and child health outcomes.
- Integrated/Collaborative Care in Substance Use Disorder: Analyzing the role of integrated care models in treating substance use disorders, with a focus on outcomes and best practices.
- Integrated/Collaborative Care and Spirituality: Examining the intersection of spirituality and mental health within integrated care frameworks, and its influence on patient outcomes.
- Integrated/Collaborative Care and Policy Makers: Understanding the role of policy makers in the development, implementation, and sustainability of integrated care models, and their impact on public health outcomes.
- Financing Integrated/Collaborative Care Across Care Pathways: Investigating different financing models to support integrated care pathways, and how they contribute to improved health outcomes.
- Skill Mix and Task Shifting to Support Integrated/Collaborative Care Pathways: Exploring the role of skill mix and task shifting in delivering effective integrated care, and its implications for workforce development and patient outcomes.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Registered Report
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: integrated care, collaborative care, mental health, primary care, patient care

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.