News from the National Registry for Evidence-Based Practices

The Youth Partners in Care(YPIC)/Depression Treatment Quality Improvement (DTQI) Program was recently reviewed by the United States Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and listed in the National Registry of Evidence-Based Practices (NREPP).

This depression quality improvement program was developed by Dr. Joan Asarnow and a team of researchers from UCLA and RAND and evaluated in a large research study funded by the Agency for Health Care Quality & Research, with additional support from the National Institute of Mental Health. The study results indicated that improving access to evidence-based depression treatment (primarily cognitive-behavior therapy and/or medications for depression) through primary care was associated with improved clinical and functioning outcomes, when compared to treatment as usual. Since the original study, the program has been adapted for implementation within county mental and behavioral health systems, mental health clinics, and in-home services and to serve youths receiving care through school, juvenile justice, and child welfare systems. To date, this program has been used across the state of Michigan and in 13 counties in California. To learn more about the YPIC/DTQI program go to: http://nrepp.samhsa.gov/ViewIntervention.aspx?id=282. For inquiries regarding DTQI training and implementation, contact Dr. Asarnow at 310 794-4962.