Behavioral Health Screening Tools

Commonly used screeners in integrated care

By Chloe Pertierra

Integrated behavioral health care follows the population health model in that interventions and clinical applications focus on the entire patient population not individual patients (Hunter et al., 2024). Hunter et al. (2024) report that less intensive intervention provided to larger amounts of people may have a greater impact on the overall population. For this reason, behavioral screening tools are integrated into clinical pathways to identify individuals who might benefit from a targeted intervention.

Screening is a tool used in primary care settings to identify signs and symptoms of common behavioral issues such as depression, anxiety, and alcohol use. Early recognition and treatment of behavioral health disorders “prevents complications, improves quality of life, and helps reduce health care costs” (Mulvaney-Day et al., 2018).

The table below lists commonly used behavioral health screening tools in primary care. These brief self-report measures are typically administered at the beginning of the session by a primary care provider (PCP) or a behavioral health consultant (BHC). All screeners listed below are offered in English and Spanish with some screeners such as the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) offered in child, adolescent, and adult form.