title: Assessment of the effectiveness of pharmacotherapy follow-up in patients treated for depression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several studies have established the effectiveness of pharmaceutical care (PC) in patients with heart failure, diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. However, there are few studies using standardized methods, e.g., randomized controlled trials, to assess the effectiveness of pharmacotherapy follow-up (PF) in patients with depression.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effectiveness of PC via PF according to the Dáder Method in female patients diagnosed with depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-eight patients were selected and randomly allocated to groups, stratified by age, type of medication, severity of depression, and presence of recurrence and/or relapse. Patients in the intervention group (IG) received clinical pharmacy intervention at monthly visits over a 3-month follow-up period. The control group (CG) also received monthly visits from the pharmacist, but PF intervention was not performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A comparison of the effects of usual treatment (CG) and PC (IG) on depressive symptoms showed a statistically significant difference between groups, with a median reduction in Beck Depression Inventory score (Δ) of 2.5 points in the CG and 13.5 points in the IG. Similarly, statistically significant results were observed for anxiety symptoms, with a median reduction in Beck Anxiety Inventory score (Δ) of 3.5 points in the CG and 13.0 points in the IG. The patients who underwent PF showed a high level of satisfaction with the service.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The PF is well accepted and effective in treating depressed patients, as indicated by the reduction of the depressive and anxious symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Alfenas, Alfenas, MG, Brazil. lualvesmarques@gmail.com
authors.forename: Luciene Alves Moreira
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.forename: José Carlos Fernandes
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Galduróz
authors.forename: Maria Rosana
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Cristiane Carneiro Oliveira
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Luiz Alberto
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Beijo
authors.forename: Ana Regina
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Noto
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult