Does a depression intervention result in improved outcomes for patients presenting with physical symptoms?

To investigate the effects of exclusively physical presentation of depression on 1). depression management and outcomes under usual care conditions, and 2). the impact of an intervention to improve management and outcomes.

Secondary analysis of a depression intervention trial in 12 community-based primary care practices.

Two hundred adults beginning a new treatment episode for depression.

Presenting complaint and physician depression query at index visit; antidepressant use, completion of adequate antidepressant trial, change in depressive symptoms, and physical and emotional role functioning at 6 months.

Sixty-six percent of depressed patients presented exclusively with physical symptoms. Under usual care conditions, psychological presenters were more likely than physical presenters to complete an adequate trial of antidepressant treatment but experienced equivalent improvements in depressive severity and role functioning. In patients presenting exclusively with physical symptoms, the intervention significantly improved physician query (40.8% vs 18.0%; P =.06), receipt of any antidepressant (63.0% vs 20.1%; P =.001), and an adequate antidepressant trial (34.9% vs 5.9%; P =.004), but did not significantly improve depression severity or role functioning. In patients presenting with psychological symptoms, the intervention significantly improved receipt of any antidepressant (79.9% vs 38.0%; P =.01) and an adequate antidepressant trial (46.0% vs 23.8%; P =.004), and also improved depression severity and physical and emotional role functioning.

Our results suggest that there is a differential intervention effect by presentation style at the index visit. Thus, current interventions should be targeted at psychological presenters and new approaches should be developed for physical presenters.