What is Measurement-based Care? Measurement-based care is extensively used in medical conditions and involves matching treatment interventions with the outcomes for those treatments. For example, a provider would periodically measure fasting blood glucose or glycosylated hemoglobin in an individual with diabetes to make adjustments to the treatment plan, including medication and lifestyle changes. Measurement-based care fosters self-management by making the individual aware if they are on the right treatment plan or if they need to modify it in collaboration with their provider. While measurement-based care has been proven to improve outcomes for medical conditions, mental health, unfortunately, has lagged behind in adopting it as a regular practice. Measurement-based care in depression is an algorithmic application of published, accepted, clinical guidelines and consists of four steps (Morris et al., 2012): Step 1: Screening: Your provider may use one of the several available tools ...
Authored by Dr. Harpreet Duggal, a board-certified psychiatrist and expert in self-managing depression, this blog offers practical strategies for treating depression beyond medications and therapy. It explores key elements such as healthy living, positive psychology, relationships, personal values, strengths, communication, and overall wellness. Please note that this blog is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional treatment advice.