Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2007 May 16:7:e10.
doi: 10.5334/ijic.192.

The interdependence of behavioral and somatic health: implications for conceptualizing health and measuring treatment outcomes

Richard A Labrie  1 , Debi A Laplante, Allyson J Peller, Donald E Christensen, Kristina L Greenwood, John H Straus, Michael S Garmon, Cheryl Browne, Howard J Shaffer
Affiliations

The interdependence of behavioral and somatic health: implications for conceptualizing health and measuring treatment outcomes

Richard A Labrie et al. Int J Integr Care. .

Abstract

Purpose: The interdependence of behavioral and somatic aspects of various health conditions warrants greater emphasis on an integrated care approach.

Theory: We propose that integrated approaches to health and wellness require comprehensive and empirically-valid outcome measures to assess quality of care.

Method: We discuss the transition from independent to integrated treatment approaches and provide examples of new systems for integrated assessment of treatment outcome.

Results: Evidence suggests that support for an independent treatment approach is waning and momentum is building towards more integrated care. In addition, research evidence suggests integrated care improves health outcomes, and both physicians and patients have favorable impressions of integrated care.

Conclusions: As treatment goals in the integrated perspective expand to take into account the intimate relationships among mental illness, overall health, and quality of life, clinicians need to develop outcome measures that are similarly comprehensive.

Discussion: Increased recognition, by researchers, providers, and insurers, of the interdependence between behavioral and physical health holds great promise for innovative treatments that could significantly improve patients' lives.

PubMed Disclaimer

Similar articles

See all similar articles

References

    1. Fauerbach J, Bush DE, Thombs BD, McCann UD. Depression following myocardial infarction: a prospective relationship with ongoing health and function. Psychosomatics. 2005;46(4):355. - PubMed
    1. Vila G, Nollet-Clemencon C, Vera M, Robert JJ, de Blic J, Jouvent R, et al. Prevalence of DSM-IV disorders in children and adolescents with asthma versus diabetes. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry. 1999 Aug;44(6):562–9. - PubMed
    1. Levine EG, Eckhardt J, Targ E. Change in post-traumatic stress symptoms following psychosocial treatment for breast cancer. Psycho-Oncology. 2005 Aug;14(8):618–35. - PubMed
    1. Vanden Bos GR, De Leon PH. The use of psychotherapy to improve physical health. Psychotherapy. 1988;25:335–43.
    1. Aitken JB, Curtis R. Integrated health care: improving client care while providing opportunities for mental health counselors. Journal of Mental Health Counseling. 2004;26(4):321–31.