Pediatricians trained through a collaborative mental health program at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago were more likely to recognize and treat anxiety and depression in children without relying on additional specialty resources, according to new findings published in Academic Pediatrics. The study focuses on the Mood, Anxiety, ADHD Collaborative Care (MAACC) model, designed to address persistent shortages in pediatric mental health clinicians.
Lead author and senior investigator John Parkhurst, PhD, reported that the training translated into measurable changes in real-world clinical behavior. Rather than shifting care exclusively to specialists, the program builds pediatrician capacity to manage common conditions directly within primary care settings.
MAACC began in 2018 and has since been implemented across 57 pediatric primary care practices, involving more than 350 pediatricians. Participating physicians complete a structured, 12-module curriculum followed by monthly virtual case presentations that emphasize assessment, diagnosis workflows, and follow-up planning.
After training, pediatricians can refer patients for multidisciplinary evaluation and develop treatment plans that include coordinated input when needed. The program also provides consultation access to pediatric psychologists or psychiatrists at Lurie Children’s, creating a safety net while encouraging primary-care-led management.
To evaluate impact, the researchers analyzed electronic health record data while excluding patients directly served by MAACC. They compared pediatricians participating in MAACC (four practices; 16 providers) with pediatricians delivering usual care without program access (three practices; 15 providers).
The evaluation covered a baseline period (July 1, 2017–June 30, 2018) and the first four years of MAACC implementation (July 1, 2018–June 30, 2022). Outcomes included pediatrician-assigned diagnoses for anxiety or depression, related medication prescribing, and the frequency of follow-up visits.
Experience with MAACC increased diagnostic and follow-up activities substantially. Even after accounting for changes over time, MAACC-exposed pediatricians showed more than twice the odds of identifying anxiety or depression and nearly three times the odds of conducting ongoing follow-up. Among diagnosed patients, antidepressant prescribing was about 20% higher in MAACC practices, suggesting greater confidence and structured follow-through.
“Training pediatricians through collaborative care builds capacity that scales access,” Parkhurst said. The study adds empirical support to the idea that competence transfer—rather than care centralization—can reduce barriers for children needing mental health treatment.
Supplemental support for the research came from the Pritzker Foundation.
Subject of Research: Collaborative mental health care in pediatrics; diagnosis and treatment of anxiety and depression in primary care
Article Title: Not provided
News Publication Date: Not provided
Web References: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1876285926001439
References: 10.1016/j.acap.2026.103361
Image Credits: Not provided
Keywords: pediatric mental health; collaborative care; anxiety; depression; MAACC; primary care; electronic health records; antidepressant prescribing; follow-up visits; care access
