Considerations in the development of learning health networks for mood disorders

Learning Health Networks (LHNs), such as the one described in Savitz et al. (in press), involve employing a network of treatment centers to produce standardized data from routine clinical practice, produce knowledge from that data, and systematically use that knowledge to inform care. To date, there are limited examples of LHNs in psychiatry. It is essential to establish robust dialogue around best practices for building LHNs to advance precision medicine in psychiatry.

A task group consensus on key elements of LHNs as applied to mood disorders was convened. Task group members reviewed current literature and ongoing LHN network efforts and evaluated opportunities and gaps within psychiatry broadly, and mood disorders specifically.

Task group members noted four key considerations for building LHNs for mood disorders. First, obtain qualitative and quantitative stakeholder input at every stage of development, specifically input from patients and patients' families, clinicians and health system leadership. Second, collect data on objective measures of functioning, such as neuropsychological testing, quality of life indicators, and blood-based markers of health, alongside more standard measures such as symptom severity. Third, carefully consider the details of how new evidence-based practices will be identified and implemented. Fourth, identify a plan for sustainability.

Literature was reviewed and discussed among expert task group members, but this was not a systematic review.

With stakeholder input, data on functioning as well as symptom severity, thoughtful implementation strategies, and an eye to sustainability, LHNs represent an important opportunity for advancement in the treatment of mood disorders.