title: Depression in primary care: learning lessons in a national quality improvement program.
abstract: In this introduction, we describe the overall context and rationale for the Depression in Primary Care program and the design and implementation of its key components, especially emphasizing its unique combined clinical and economic/systems framework. We also discuss some of the new challenges and opportunities that may impact the program's evolution and the state of behavioral health care more generally. We conclude with some thoughts on potential future scenarios and strategies for improving the quality of behavioral health care, including the treatment of depression in primary care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
authors.forename: Harold Alan
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Pincus
authors.forename: Constance
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pechura
authors.forename: Donna
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Keyser
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bachman
authors.forename: Jeanine Knox
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Houtsinger
mesh_terms: D003863:Depression; D006801:Humans; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States