Symptom Severity and Treatment Needs Among Racial Groups Seeking Treatment at a Mood Outcomes Program

Mood disorders are highly prevalent. Despite increased rates of treatment provision, treatment gaps are sustained by inadequate targeting of interventions and little emphasis on prevention. Here, the authors present an overview and analysis of the National Network of Depression Centers (NNDC) Mood Outcomes Program, which is both a measurement-based care program, with a standardized set of mood "vital signs" assessed as part of routine clinical care, and a learning health system. The authors analyzed all data collected since the program's inception in 2015 to assess whether baseline symptom severity, prior suicidal ideation or attempts, length of care, and longitudinal symptom severity differed across sociodemographic groups. The results show important treatment needs that are not being fulfilled. Most notably, the groups with the greatest symptom severity were not the groups with the most visits. Efforts to address systemic barriers that prevent access to mental health care are required. Given that the NNDC Mood Outcomes Program is integrated with clinical care, academic programs, and research at each site, the authors anticipate that the program is well suited to support efforts to dismantle systemic barriers to care.