title: [Evaluation of the program for detection and treatment of depression in Chilean primary health care centers].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Depression is highly prevalent among Chilean adults, therefore a primary care treatment program was devised.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the Program for detection, diagnosis and integral treatment of depression, implemented in Chilean Primary Health Care Centers.
  
  
  METHODS
  A three and six months follow-up study was conducted among women admitted to the program at seven primary health care centers in two regions of Chile. Socio-demographic data, treatments provided and compliance with the program were assessed. A clinical standardized interview (with ICD-10) was carried out and the intensity of depressive symptoms was evaluated using Beck Depression Inventory (BDI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The initial sample was composed by 201 women aged 25 to 65 years. At 6 months, 35% were lost from follow up. Depression was mild, moderate or severe in 12, 63 and 25% of women, respectively. The severity of depression was underestimated by primary care teams. Among women with regular and irregular attendance to medical appointments and those that abandoned treatment, BDI score decreased by 35, 37 and 13%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This primary care program for depression was effective to reduce BDI scores. Diagnostic precision of primary care teams must be improved.
authors: Escuela de Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile. ralvarado@med.uchile.cl
authors: Rubén
authors: R
authors: Alvarado
authors: Graciela
authors: G
authors: Rojas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002677:Chile; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011320:Primary Health Care; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors