title: Evaluation of the Effectiveness of a Psychoeducational Intervention in Treatment-Naïve Patients with Antidepressant Medication in Primary Care: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is evidence supporting the effectiveness of psychoeducation (PE) in patients with symptoms of depression in primary care (PC), but very few studies have assessed this intervention in antidepressant-naïve patients. The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of a PE program in these patients, since the use of antidepressant (AD) medication may interfere with the effects of the intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  106 participants were included, 50 from the PE program (12 weekly 1.5-hour sessions) and 56 from the control group (CG) that received the usual care. Patients were assessed at baseline and at 3, 6, and 9 months. The main outcome measures were the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and remission based on the BDI. The analysis was carried out on an intention-to-treat basis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The PE program group showed remission of symptoms of 40% (P = 0.001) posttreatment and 42% (P = 0.012) at 6 months. The analysis only showed significant differences in the BDI score posttreatment (P = 0.008; effect size Cohen's d' = 0.55).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The PE intervention is an effective treatment in the depressive population not treated with AD medication. Before taking an AD, psychoeducational intervention should be considered.
authors.affiliation: Research Department, Centre Higiene Mental (CHM) Les Corts, C/Numancia, 103-105 Bajos, 08029 Barcelona, Spain ; Psychiatry and Legal Medicine Department, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain ; Primary Healthcare University Research Institute IDIAP-Jordi Gol, Institut Català de la Salut (ICS), C/Sardenya 375, 08036 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Casañas
authors.affiliation: Clinical Institute of Neurosciences (ICN), Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain ; Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychobiology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain ; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain ; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Catalán
authors.affiliation: Clinical Institute of Neurosciences (ICN), Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain ; Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychobiology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain ; Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain ; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Penadés
authors.affiliation: Primary Healthcare University Research Institute IDIAP-Jordi Gol, Institut Català de la Salut (ICS), C/Sardenya 375, 08036 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Real
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain ; Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Valero
authors.affiliation: Primary Healthcare University Research Institute IDIAP-Jordi Gol, Institut Català de la Salut (ICS), C/Sardenya 375, 08036 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Ma
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.affiliation: Research Department, Centre Higiene Mental (CHM) Les Corts, C/Numancia, 103-105 Bajos, 08029 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Ll
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lalucat-Jo
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Spain ; Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona (UAB), Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Casas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D003071:Cognition; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003863:Depression / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents