Publications by authors named "Kimberly A. Yonkers"

Opioid-use disorder (OUD) during pregnancy has increased in the United States to critical levels and is a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. Untreated OUD is associated with pregnancy complications in particular, preterm birth. Medications for OUD, such as buprenorphine, are recommended with the added benefit that treatment during pregnancy increases treatment post-partum.

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Objectives: Digital interventions are increasingly in demand to address mental health concerns, with significant potential to reach populations that disproportionately face barriers to accessing mental health care. Challenges with user engagement, however, persist. The goal of this study was to develop user personas to inform the development of a digital mental health intervention (DMHI) for a perinatal population.

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To understand obstetric provider perspectives on child protective services (CPS)-mandated reporting requirements and how they affect care for pregnant and postpartum patients with opioid use disorder (OUD). Key informant interviews were conducted virtually with obstetricians, nurse practitioners, and social workers caring for obstetric patients ( = 12). Providers were asked about their experience as mandated reporters working with patients with OUD.

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Background And Objectives: The provider-patient relationship is integral to medical practice and health outcomes, particularly among vulnerable patient populations. This study compared the provider-patient relationship among pregnant patients with opioid-use disorder (OUD), who did or did not have a history of moderate to severe trauma.

Methods: This was an exploratory data analysis of 119 patients enrolled in the Support Models for Addiction Related Treatment trial.

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Introduction: The burden of mental health-related visits to emergency departments (EDs) is growing, and agitation episodes are prevalent with such visits. Best practice guidance from experts recommends early assessment of at-risk populations and pre-emptive intervention using de-escalation techniques to prevent agitation. Time pressure, fluctuating work demands, and other systems-related factors pose challenges to efficient decision-making and adoption of best practice recommendations during an unfolding behavioural crisis.

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Purpose/background: Daily treatment with sertraline improves functional impairment among individuals with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). We do not know whether treatment initiated at symptom onset also improves functional impairment.

Methods/procedures: This 3-site, double blind, randomized, clinical trial compared sertraline (25-100 mg) to similar appearing placebo, both administered at symptom onset, for reduction of PMDD symptoms.

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Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SRIs) are often used as first line therapy for depression and other psychiatric disorders. SRI use during pregnancy is associated with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) and subsequent preterm birth. The objective of this study was to investigate the mechanism(s) responsible for SRI-associated PPROM.

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Introduction: Approximately 1 in 7 pregnant women in the USA report past-month alcohol use. Strong evidence connects prenatal alcohol exposure with a range of adverse perinatal outcomes, including the spectrum of conditions known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders. Screening and Brief Intervention (SBI) has been recommended for pregnant women but has proven difficult to implement.

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Objectives: Agitation, defined as excessive psychomotor activity leading to aggressive or violent behaviour, is prevalent in the emergency department (ED) due to rising behavioural-related visits. Experts recommend use of verbal de-escalation and avoidance of physical restraint to manage agitation. However, bedside applications of these recommendations may be limited by system challenges in emergency care.

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Learning Objective: After participating in this activity, learners should be better able to:• Discuss and outline the general and overlapping effects of the menstrual cycle on women's mental health.

Abstract: A growing body of research demonstrates menstrual cycle-dependent fluctuations in psychiatric symptoms; these fluctuations can therefore be considered as prevalent phenomena. Possible mechanisms underlying these fluctuations posit behavioral, psychological, and neuroendocrine influences.

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Introduction: The prevalence of opioid use disorder (OUD) in pregnancy increased nearly five-fold over the past decade. Despite this, obstetric providers are less likely to treat pregnant women with medication for OUD than non-obstetric providers (75% vs 91%). A major reason is many obstetricians feel unprepared to prescribe medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD).

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Purpose: Women who utilize assisted-reproductive technology (ART) to achieve pregnancy experience unique circumstances before and during their pregnancy. This study aims to examine the progression of mental health in pregnant women who conceived various methods of ART to understand gestational time periods of emotional stability or risk specific to these populations.

Methods: Secondary analysis of the Yale Pink and Blue Study - a prospective cohort involving women from 137 obstetrical practices in the northeastern United States between 2005-2009.

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Objective: To estimate the impact of screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) administered in reproductive health care settings on a variety of economic outcomes, including general health care utilization, criminal activity, and motor vehicle crashes. Whether and by how much SBIRT affects economic outcomes are important unanswered questions related to the economic impact of this technique.

Methods: We collected data as part of a randomized clinical trial that examined whether SBIRT delivered electronically (e-SBIRT) or by a clinician (SBIRT) is superior to enhanced usual care (EUC) for substance misuse.

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The burden of the COVID-19 pandemic upon healthcare workers necessitates a systematic effort to support their resilience. This article describes the Yale University and Yale New Haven Health System effort to unite several independent initiatives into a coherent integrated model for institutional support for healthcare workers. Here, we highlight both opportunities and challenges faced in attempting to support healthcare workers during this pandemic.

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Background: The prevalence of substance use disorders is higher among medical inpatients than in the general population, placing inpatient providers in a prime position to detect these patients and intervene.

Objective: To assess provider detection rates of substance use disorders among medical inpatients and to identify patient characteristics associated with detection.

Design: Data drawn from a cluster randomized controlled trial that tested the effectiveness of three distinct implementation strategies for providers to screen patients for substance use disorders and deliver a brief intervention (Clinical Trials.

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Article Synopsis
  • Research indicates a limited understanding of how pregnancy intention relates to perinatal depression and social support among women.
  • A study conducted with 161 women seeking pregnancy testing or abortion revealed that unintended and ambivalent pregnancies are linked to higher depression rates and lower social support.
  • The results underscore the importance of early depression screening in pregnant women and considering their pregnancy context to identify risk factors effectively.
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The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has radically altered delivery of care in emergency settings. Unprecedented hardship due to ongoing fears of exposure and threats to personal safety, along with societal measures enacted to curb disease transmission, have had broad psychosocial impact on patients and healthcare workers alike. These changes can significantly affect diagnosing and managing behavioral emergencies such as agitation in the emergency department.

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Background: This study conducted cost and cost-effectiveness analyses of three strategies for implementing motivational interviewing for substance misuse on general medical inpatient units: workshop, apprenticeship, and consult.

Methods: The economic analyses were conducted prospectively alongside a type 3 hybrid effectiveness-implementation randomized trial comprising 38 medical providers, 1173 inpatients, and four consultation-liaison motivational interviewing experts. The trial took place in a university affiliated teaching hospital in New Haven, CT, USA.

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Article Synopsis
  • Emergency department visits for behavioral conditions are increasing, with a significant annual occurrence of patient agitation leading to risky interventions like restraints and sedatives, which can harm both patients and staff.
  • A new study aims to create the Agitation Code Team (ACT) response intervention, standardizing roles and protocols among health workers to improve safety and reduce the use of restraints during agitation events.
  • The intervention's effectiveness will be evaluated through a pilot program in a clinical setting, measuring changes in patient restraint rates over six months, with ethical oversight and results planned for dissemination in scientific communities.
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Background: Although the inpatient setting presents an important opportunity for medications for alcohol use disorder (MAUD) adoption, this infrequently occurs. We aimed to develop a comprehensive understanding of barriers and facilitators of inpatient MAUD adoption.

Methods: A convergent mixed-method study conducted from April to September 2018 of non-prescribing (registered nurse, pharmacist, and social work) and prescribing (physician or advanced practice provider hospitalist, general internist, and psychiatrist) professionals at a large urban academic medical center.

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Treatment of substance use in women seeking reproductive healthcare is crucial for the health of both women and their offspring. Although abstinence from all substance use during pregnancy is optimal, it is difficult to achieve. This secondary analysis reports abstinence outcomes from a randomized clinical trial of screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment (SBIRT) for substance use among women seeking reproductive healthcare services.

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Background: The purpose of this study is to evaluate five self-report, non-proprietary questionnaires in the identification of substance use disorders [including alcohol, cannabis, opioids, and stimulants] among pregnant women.

Procedures: A total of 1220 pregnant women completed the NIDA Quick Screen, CRAFFT, Substance Use Risk Profile-Pregnancy (SURP-P), Wayne Indirect Drug Use Questionnaire (WIDUS), and the 5 Ps, as well as the MINI diagnostic interview for substance use disorders, which served as the reference standard. Measures of merit calculated for each screener included sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and area under the receiver operating curve (AUROC).

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Objectives: A previous individual participant data meta-analysis (IPDMA) identified differences in major depression classification rates between different diagnostic interviews, controlling for depressive symptoms on the basis of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. We aimed to determine whether similar results would be seen in a different population, using studies that administered the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) in pregnancy or postpartum.

Methods: Data accrued for an EPDS diagnostic accuracy IPDMA were analysed.

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