Abstract

Mental health conditions are increasingly recognized as critical public health concerns. Integrated care models, which combine mental health services with primary care, have been proposed as effective interventions to improve access to care, treatment adherence, and patient quality of life. This systematic review evaluated the effectiveness of integrated care models for mental health conditions in family medicine settings. A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library was conducted using PRISMA guidelines. Studies involving integrated care models for mental health in family medicine were included. Eligible studies reported outcomes related to access to care, treatment adherence, or patient quality of life. Twelve studies involving various integrated care models were included, comprising randomized controlled trials, observational studies, and meta-analyses. Integrated care was consistently associated with improved access to mental health services, higher patient satisfaction, and reductions in depression severity. Integrated care models demonstrated significant reductions in depression symptoms compared to usual care, with effect sizes ranging from small to moderate. Patients receiving integrated care reported higher treatment adherence and a greater sense of support from multidisciplinary teams. However, evidence on quality of life improvements was mixed, with some studies reporting no significant differences compared to usual care. Findings also indicated potential economic advantages of integrated care for specific subgroups. Future research should explore the long-term effects of these models and their implementation in diverse healthcare settings. Strengthening multidisciplinary collaboration and tailoring interventions to patient needs might further enhance outcomes.

Key words: Integrated care, mental health, family medicine, treatment adherence, systemic review.