title: Telephone-administered cognitive-behavioral therapy for clients with depressive symptoms in an employee assistance program: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To assess the clinical and work productivity effects of a brief intervention using telephone-administered cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for clients with depressive symptoms attending an employee assistance program (EAP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Self-referred clients attending the PPC Canada EAP with clinically relevant depressive symptoms at initial assessment were offered an 8-session telephone-administered CBT program. Outcomes before and after intervention were assessed with the 9-item Personal Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF), and clinician ratings of work absence and performance impairment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty clients were referred to the pilot program; 39 participated and 31 completed the telephone CBT program. Among program participants, there was significant improvement in PHQ-9 and GAF scores. There was also a significant reduction in performance impairment but not work absence. Anecdotal reports indicated high satisfaction ratings among participants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this pilot study, although limited by the absence of a comparison or control group, suggest that a brief telephone-administered CBT program can improve depressive symptomatology, work productivity, and general function in depressed clients attending an EAP. Further controlled studies are needed to confirm these preliminary findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. r.lam@ubc.ca
authors.forename: Raymond W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lutz
authors.forename: Melady
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Preece
authors.forename: Paula M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Cayley
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bowen Walker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D010054:Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological / Q000379:methods*; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009786:Occupational Health Services; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011614:Psychotherapy, Brief; D057566:Self Report; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome