A multifaceted intervention to improve treatment of depression in primary care.
BACKGROUND
This research study evaluates the effectiveness of a multifaceted intervention program to improve the management of depression in primary care.


METHODS
One hundred fifty-three primary care patients with current depression were entered into a randomized controlled trial. Intervention patients received a structured depression treatment program in the primary care setting that included both behavioral treatment to increase use of adaptive coping strategies and counseling to improve medication adherence. Control patients received "usual" care by their primary care physicians. Outcome measures included adherence to antidepressant medication, satisfaction with care of depression and with antidepressant treatment, and reduction of depressive symptoms over time.


RESULTS
At 4-month follow-up, significantly more intervention patients with major and minor depression than usual care patients adhered to antidepressant medication and rated the quality of care they received for depression as good to excellent. Intervention patients with major depression demonstrated a significantly greater decrease in depression severity over time compared with usual care patients on all 4 outcome analyses. Intervention patients with minor depression were found to have a significant decrease over time in depression severity on only 1 of 4 study outcome analyses compared with usual care patients.


CONCLUSIONS
A multifaceted primary care intervention improved adherence to antidepressant regimens and satisfaction with care in patients with major and minor depression. The intervention consistently resulted in more favorable depression outcomes among patients with major depression, while outcome effects were ambiguous among patients with minor depression.
Katon
W
W
Department of Psychiatry, University of Washington Medical School, Seattle, USA.
Robinson
P
P
Von Korff
M
M
Lin
E
E
Bush
T
T
Ludman
E
E
Simon
G
G
Walker
E
E
D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001521:Behavior Therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003376:Counseling; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011613:Psychotherapy; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000928:Antidepressive Agents