Development, Implementation, and Refinement of a Mental Health Consultation-Liaison Model in the Neonatal Intensive...

Area of Science:

• Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Mental Health
• Consultation-Liaison (C-L) Psychiatry
• Learning Health Systems (LHS)

Background:

• Proactive mental health C-L services are vital for infant and family well-being in NICUs.
• Limited guidance exists for developing sustainable and effective NICU mental health programs.
• A theory-driven model focusing on infant regulation and parent-infant interaction is foundational.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the development and implementation of a NICU mental health C-L program.
• To utilize a learning health system (LHS) framework for iterative program refinement.
• To offer a replicable framework for establishing NICU mental health services.

Main Methods:

• Employed an LHS framework with incremental program element introduction.
• Utilized embedded data collection, rapid feedback loops, and multidisciplinary learning.
• Focused on feasibility, reach, implementation processes, and acceptability.

Main Results:

• Successfully expanded integrated services over six years.
• Included dyadic interventions, parent mental health screening, family engagement, and neurobehavioral care.
• Demonstrated a pragmatic roadmap for NICU mental health service development.

Conclusions:

• The LHS approach provides a sustainable and adaptable framework for NICU mental health C-L services.
• This model balances developmental theory with implementation realities and system constraints.
• Offers a replicable roadmap for NICUs to build or enhance mental health support.