A Novel Approach to Measurement-Based Care: Integrating Palliative Care Tools Into Geriatric Mental Health

Background: Older adults cared for in a geriatric mental health program often have medical co-morbidities causing physical symptoms which may be under-recognized. We explore the utility of palliative care tools in this patient population to identify the burden of symptoms and impact on patient dignity. Methods: Participants were recruited from a geriatric mental health inpatient unit and outpatient day hospital. Mood and somatic symptoms were tracked with self-report rating scales, including the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory (GAI) used in psychiatry, as well as the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) and Patient Dignity Inventory (PDI) used in palliative care. Demographic characteristics were collected from a retrospective chart review. Exploratory longitudinal models were developed for the GDS and GAI outcomes to assess change over time after adjusting for ESAS and PDI item scores. Results: Data were obtained for 33 English speaking patients (inpatients N = 17, outpatients N = 16) with a mean age of 76.5 (SD = 6.1). At baseline, several ESAS symptom burdens were rated as moderate and the PDI often captured physically distressing symptoms. GDS scores declined over time but at a slower rate for those reporting higher levels of pain on the ESAS (P = .04). GAI scores declined over time but at a slower rate for those identifying physically distressing symptoms on the PDI (P = .04). Conclusions: This study demonstrates how using the ESAS and PDI in a mental health population can be helpful in tracking symptoms and how these symptoms are related to psychiatric outcomes.