Outcome in a specialist referral clinic for mood disorders: a qualitative and quantitative review.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine whether short-term outcome for those referred with a depressive disorder could be predicted from baseline clinical assessment and identify factors contributing to outcome in a clinic operating to a subtyping diagnostic and aetiologically weighted management model.


METHODS
This pilot study involved a consecutive series of 85 patients referred to the Depression Clinic at the Black Dog Institute.


RESULTS
Globally assessed baseline prediction was associated with short-term outcome. Comparably high rates of improvement were evident in those with bipolar, melancholic and non-melancholic subtypes, and somewhat lower in those diagnosed with a 'secondary depression'. Qualitative and quantitative analyses established that outcome was most clearly associated with referral source, degree of take up of recommendations and implementation of psychotropic drug strategies.


CONCLUSIONS
Study results encourage more definitive and comparative study designs to be derived.
Parker
Gordon
G
School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Black Dog Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia. g.parker@unsw.edu.au
Brotchie
Heather
H
Fletcher
Kathryn
K
Hyett
Matthew
M
Barrett
Melissa
M
D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D017146:Models, Organizational; D009517:New South Wales; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013038:Specialization