Richmond, Va. — Dr. Bryce D. McLeod, a psychology professor at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), has been awarded a $1.8 million federal grant from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) to advance research into youth mental health care. The four-year grant will focus on improving measurement-based care (MBC) practices, a method for tracking and informing treatment decisions for young patients.
Addressing Challenges in Measurement-Based Care
MBC is an evidence-based clinical approach for treating mental health issues, utilizing regular progress measurements to guide treatment adjustments. However, McLeod emphasizes that poor fidelity—when clinicians fail to consistently apply core MBC practices—reduces its effectiveness and limits its public health impact for youths and their families.
The grant supports McLeod’s collaboration with Dr. Amanda Jensen-Doss, a psychology professor at the University of Miami, to optimize the delivery of MBC and identify strategies to better train clinicians.
Research Goals
The project leverages data from the Community Study of Outcome Monitoring for Emotional Disorders in Teens, a randomized trial comparing different MBC conditions. Key objectives include:
- Defining and evaluating MBC fidelity domains to establish a continuum of fidelity practices.
- Assessing MBC fidelity’s impact on clinical mechanisms and outcomes in youth.
- Testing pragmatic fidelity indicators, such as clinician self-reports and digital usage metrics, to streamline monitoring and implementation.
Broader Implications for Mental Health Care
McLeod’s research aligns with the work of VCU’s CREATE Lab, which focuses on enhancing the effectiveness and sustainability of evidence-based mental health practices in community settings. By optimizing MBC, McLeod aims to improve the accessibility and quality of youth mental health care nationwide.
The project underscores the growing emphasis on data-driven approaches in mental health and highlights the importance of equipping clinicians with tools and training to deliver consistent, high-quality care.
This grant-funded initiative has the potential to significantly advance the field, ensuring that youth and their families receive effective, personalized mental health treatments that yield better outcomes.
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