Implementing brief Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (DIT) in a VA Medical Center
Abstract
Background: Given increasing mental health needs in the VA, identifying strategies to deliver new services is critical.Aims: This paper describes the process of navigating provider, patient and systems barriers of an initiative to increase choice, access and quality of psychotherapy at the VA by incorporating an evidence-based short-term, psychodynamic psychotherapy.Methods: Brief Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy (DIT) was selected as a viable model for implementation. Data were gathered on the process of implementation, barriers, Veterans seen, and access to psychodynamic psychotherapy.Results: Nine psychologists and 22 masters level pre-doctoral psychology externs have delivered DIT to 73 Veterans. Veterans referred for psychodynamic psychotherapy annually increased 360%. Furthermore, DIT has become the dominant form of psychodynamic psychotherapy requested of the psychology service representing 70.1% of psychodynamic psychotherapy referrals. Strategies are presented for addressing: (1) provider ability, flexibility and motivation, (2) Veteran perception of relevance, distinctiveness and adaptability to complex presenting issues and (3) administrative support.Conclusions: Implementing an evidence-based short-term psychodynamic treatment option in the VA is feasible. VA mental health providers can be trained in brief psychodynamic psychotherapy and can successfully implement those approaches in VA settings. Finally, psychodynamic treatment approaches may serve as a promising alternative to currently available treatments.
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Recent studies continue to test new ways psychodynamic practices can be beneficial.
“recent studies continue to test new ways psychodynamic practices can be beneficial [33]”
From Technology enabled clinical care (TECC): Protocol for a prospective longitudinal cohort study of smartphone-augmented mental health treatment (2021) · cites this paper as [33]
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- Authors
- Chen, C. K., Ingenito, C. P., Kehn, M. M., Nehrig, N., & Abraham, K. S.
- Affiliations
- VA NY Harbor Healthcare System (US)
- Corresponding author
- Chen, Cory K.
- Venue
- Journal of Mental Health
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2017-07-12
- Volume
- 28
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 613-620
- ISSN
- 0963-8237 (ISSN-L)
- 1360-0567
- OpenAlex
- W2735978158
- Cited by
- 9
- References
- 43
- Citations by year
- 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 1 · 2017: 1
- FWCI
- 1.69
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Mental Health (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health Policy Implementation Science
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychiatric care and mental health services
- Keywords
- psychodynamic psychotherapy, implementation barriers, veterans, brief psychotherapy, provider training, access to psychotherapy, administrative support
- MeSH terms
- Veterans Health Services, Adult, Mental Disorders, Female, Humans, Male, Mental Health, Middle Aged, United States, United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans, Treatment Outcome, Veterans Health, Patient Navigation, Psychotherapy, Psychodynamic
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