Effectiveness of community-based depression intervention programme (ComDIP) to manage women with depression in...

In low and middle income countries where mental health resources are limited, community based depression intervention models, which can be implemented through the existing health system, are extremely relevant.

To test the effectiveness of Community based Depression Intervention Programme (ComDIP), newly developed by us, to reduce severity of depression in women, compared to the treatment as usual (TAU).

An RCT (Trial registration Number: CTRI/2011/08/001978, Clinical Trials Registry -India) was conducted in a primary care setting in Trivandrum, Kerala, South India. Health workers screened 422 women, aged 18-60 years, using PHQ-9. Sixty women with HAM-D (Hamilton Depression Rating scale) score above 19 were randomized to receive either ComDIP or TAU. Primary care physicians and health workers together implemented ComDIP which had psycho-social intervention and drug treatment. Those in TAU arm were referred to available mental health services. Primary outcome was measured at 8 weeks, by HAM-D.

At baseline and 8 weeks, mean (SD) HAM-D scores were 29.2 (5.8) and 12.2 (9.3) respectively among women in ComDIP; and 28.6 (5.1) and 21.7 (12.4) respectively among those in TAU (p = 0.02, effect size = 0.82).

ComDIP, implemented through existing health system is an effective public health programme to manage women with depression in primary care.