Integrating outcomes research into clinical practice.
A cohort of 102 psychiatric outpatients with major depressive disorder were followed up for about two years. Prospective ratings were obtained at each medication management visit with two instruments that measured changes in symptoms. The mean time to recovery was very similar to that reported in the National Institute of Mental Health's Collaborative Depression Study. This finding supports the validity of using brief instruments to measure outcomes in routine clinical practice.
Posternak
Michael A
MA
Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, Brown University School of Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence 02905, USA. mposternak@lifespan.org
Zimmerman
Mark
M
Solomon
David A
DA
D000328:Adult; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome