Models for treating depression in specialty medical settings: a narrative review

This review answered two questions: (a) what types of specialty medical settings are implementing models for treating depression, and (b) do models for treating depression in specialty medical settings effectively treat depression symptoms?

We searched Medline/Pubmed to identify articles, published between January 1990 and May 2013, reporting on models for treating depression in specialty medical settings. Included studies had to have adult participants with comorbid medical conditions recruited from outpatient, nonstandard primary care settings. Studies also had to report specific, validated depression measures.

Search methods identified nine studies (six randomized controlled trials, one nonrandomized controlled trial and two uncontrolled trials), all representing integrated care for depression, in three specialty settings (oncology, infectious disease, neurology). Most studies (N=7) reported greater reductions in depression among patients receiving integrated care compared to usual care, particularly in oncology clinics.

Integrated care for depression in specialty medical settings can improve depression outcomes. Additional research is needed to understand the effectiveness of incorporating behavioral and/or psychological treatments into existing methods. When developing or selecting a model for treating depression in specialty medical settings, clinicians and researchers will benefit from choosing specific components and measures most relevant to their target populations.