Adequacy of antidepressant treatment by psychiatric residents: the antidepressant treatment history form as a possible assessment tool.
OBJECTIVE
Facility in psychopharmacology is a major goal of psychiatric residency. This study assesses the adequacy of pharmacotherapy provided to depressed patients in a resident clinic.


METHODS
Charts of all 285 patients seen in an outpatient triage clinic during 2000 were reviewed. One hundred twelve patients had diagnoses of major depression, dysthymia, depressive disorder not otherwise specified, adjustment disorder with depressed mood, or bipolar disorder with a documented depressed episode during the studied period. Pharmacotherapy prescribed to these 112 patients was rated using the Antidepressant Treatment History Form (ATHF). Also analyzed were weeks in treatment and Clinical Global Impression (CGI) Severity score assigned retrospectively.


RESULTS
Of the 112 charts subjected to detailed review, 49.1% documented adequate treatment. Antidepressant Treatment History Form ratings increased with treatment duration. No correlation was found between ATHF ratings and CGI ratings.


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that time retained in treatment is a major factor in treatment adequacy.
Dew
Rachel Elizabeth
RE
Department of Psychiatry, North Carolina Baptist Hospital, Winston-Salem, NC, USA. red@geri.duke.edu
Kramer
Stephen I
SI
McCall
W Vaughn
WV
D000275:Adjustment Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019263:Dysthymic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000193:education*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D000078329:Workforce
D000928:Antidepressive Agents