Vol. 2, Issue 2, Part A (2025)

Background: Mental health service gaps remain a major challenge worldwide, particularly in primary care settings where early identification and intervention can yield significant population-level benefits. Integrating psychiatric nursing into primary care represents a scalable approach to improving access, quality, and outcomes of mental health services. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the clinical and service delioutcomes of integrating psychiatric nurses into primary care teams for the management of common mental disorders, including depression and anxiety. Methods: A mixed-methods quasi-experimental study was conducted in five primary health centers with a total sample of 300 adults. Psychiatric nurses were embedded within care teams to provide mental health screening, brief interventions, psychoeducation, and follow-up support. Outcomes were measured before and after the intervention using standardized tools (PHQ-9, GAD-7), adherence and follow-up rates, satisfaction surveys, and referral rates. Data were analyzed using paired t-tests, McNemar tests, and logistic regression. Results: Following integration, significant reductions in PHQ-9 (mean change ≈ −5, p<0.001) and GAD-7 (mean change ≈ −5, p<0.001) scores were observed. Medication adherence improved from 58% to 76%, 30-day follow-up rates increased from 60% to 82%, and specialist referrals decreased from 22% to 12% (p<0.001 for all). Patient satisfaction scores also rose significantly. Logistic regression showed consistent treatment response across sites, indicating strong feasibility of the model. Conclusion: Integrating psychiatric nursing into primary care significantly improves mental health outcomes and service efficiency. This approach enhances early intervention, strengthens adherence and follow-up, and reduces reliance on specialist care. Practical recommendations include structured training for nurses, formalizing collaborative care frameworks, policy integration, and continuous monitoring to ensure quality and scalability. Psychiatric nurses can play a pivotal role in addressing treatment gaps and improving community-level mental health systems.