Low-intensity treatment of depression in primary care: is it problematic?

The aim of this study was to examine patterns of care and outcomes of depressed patients under primary care during acute phase treatment. A cohort of depressed patients was assessed 6-8 weeks after starting pharmacotherapy in four large primary care clinics in a health maintenance organization. These patients (n = 1671) were receiving antidepressant treatment for a new episode of depression. To calculate main outcome measures, Structured Clinical Interview for Depression evaluated prior history and current depression status. Visit and pharmacy refill data described use of health services and antidepressant medication. Six to eight weeks after starting antidepressant therapy, 33.2% of patients had 0-3 depressive symptoms and no prior history of depression, an additional 42.3% also reported 0-3 symptoms but were at high risk of relapse, and 24. 5% were persistently depressed with 4 or more depressive symptoms. In the initial 6 weeks of treatment, these three groups showed similar use of antidepressant medication and health services. About 50% in each group had no follow-up visit for depression and 32%-42% had not refilled their antidepressant prescription. In general, depressed patients under primary care obtained low-intensity pharmacotherapy and inconsistent follow-up visits during initial acute phase treatment. Six weeks after starting antidepressant medicine, many were still symptomatic or recovered but had a high risk of depression relapse. Patients with unfavorable outcomes did not receive more intensive management than the one-third who had favorable outcomes.