Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
With roughly 25% of the U.S. population suffering from a mental illness, the Rutgers State University CERT is working toward making a positive impact on the use and management of mental health therapeutics in patient care, particularly in publicly-funded programs. CERT investigators are focused on resolving the noticeable mismatch between evidenced-based recommendations and widespread practices; emerging safety concerns; the off-label use of psychotropic medications and critical weaknesses in the knowledge base of these medications; and improving practices, outcomes, and sustainable research and interventions related to mental health therapeutics.
Examples of current CERT projects include the following:
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Database development that supports the merging of Medicaid, Medicare, and nursing home Minimum Data Set data to analyze the use, management, and outcomes associated with psychotropic medications across various population groups in 8 States.
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Analysis of the use and monitoring of psychotropic therapy among Medicaid-eligible youth using 1999-2000 Medicaid Analytic Extract data and private insurance data;
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Development of treatment guidelines and toolkits for managing aggression in youths; and
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Development and implementation of guidelines for prescribing atypical antipsychotic drugs to treat behavioral symptoms of dementia in nursing home residents.
These items by the Rutgers CERT are posted on CHAIN Online:
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New Guidelines for Treating Maladaptive Aggression in Youth (Practice Tools)
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Treatment of Maladaptive Aggression in Youth (T-MAY) Toolkit (Practice Tools)
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Rutgers CERT Investigators Report Troublesome Trends in Pediatric Antipsychotic Prescribing Practices (Research Tools)
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Use of Psychotropics for Pediatric ASD Increasing (Research Tools)
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Trends in U.S. Outpatient Depression Treatment, 1998 - 2007: An Overall Increase in Treatment, but a Decline in Psychotherapy (Research Tools)
