Mental Health Screening of Medically-Admitted Patients With Cystic Fibrosis

Multi-national studies have identified an increased risk for depression and anxiety among the cystic fibrosis population. People with cystic fibrosis and depression have decreased lung function, adherence, and quality of life, and increased health care utilization. This is a pilot study of mental health screening and referral of patients with cystic fibrosis in a large tertiary medical center.

Patients with a diagnosis of cystic fibrosis aged 8 and older, medically admitted to a tertiary hospital, were screened for eligibility and offered mental health screening for depression and anxiety.

Patients indicating elevated rates of anxiety, depression, or suicidal ideation were offered a psychiatric consultation, and all participants were offered mental health referrals. Health-related outcomes were gathered via medical record review.

The pediatric population showed elevated rates/at risk of depression (17%), anxiety (22%) and clinically-elevated depression (5%), and anxiety (11%). Twenty-two percent of the youth reported suicidal ideation. The adult population reported mild rates of depression (11%), anxiety (28%), and suicidality (11%). The mental health screening process resulted in 1 mental health referral, 16 patients eligible for psychiatric consultation, and 4 completed psychiatric consultations.

This study represents a pilot mental health screening in the inpatient medical setting. The results indicate an elevated rate of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation, and a protocol for responding to elevated responses via psychiatric consultation. This study indicates the need for further exploration of implementation of mental health screening, rapid response to suicidal ideation, referral process, and treatment interventions.