Proven Techniques

Social determinants of health (SDOH)

Social determinants of health are conditions in the environments in which people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age, affecting a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks. Conditions (e.g., social, economic, and physical) in these various environments and settings (e.g., school, church, workplace, and neighborhood) have been referred to as “place.” In addition to the more material attributes of “place,” the patterns of social engagement and sense of security and well-being are also affected by where people live. Resources that enhance quality of life can have a significant influence on population health outcomes. Examples of these resources include safe and affordable housing, access to education, public safety, availability of healthy foods, local emergency/health services, and environments free of life-threatening toxins.

 

Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES)

Adverse childhood experiences are traumatic events occurring before age 18. ACEs include all types of abuse and neglect and parental mental illness, substance use, divorce, incarceration, and domestic violence.

 

Substance Abuse Screening Questionnaire (CAGE-AID)  

A five-question tool used to screen for drug and alcohol use; answering yes to two or more questions indicates a complete assessment is advised. 

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Feedback Informed Treatment (FIT)

FIT systems are continual assessment procedures that include weekly feedback about a client’s current symptomology and perceptions of the therapeutic process concerning previous counseling session scores. These systems also can include other information such as self-reported suicidal ideation, reported substance use, or other specific responses (e.g., current rating of depressive symptomology).

 

Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) 

This easy to use patient questionnaire is a self-administered version of the PRIME-MD diagnostic instrument for common mental disorders. The PHQ-9 is the depression module, which scores each of the nine DSM-IV criteria as "0" (not at all) to "3" (nearly every day). It has been validated for use in primary care. It is not a screening tool for depression, but it is used to monitor the severity of depression and response to treatment. 

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