A Novel Approach to Depression Care: Efficacy of an Adapted Interpersonal Therapy in a Large, Urban Primary Care Setting

AbstractThe Collaborative Care Model (CoCM), in which social workers, primary care physicians, and a consulting psychiatrist work as a team, is an established approach to the treatment of common mental health conditions in primary care settings. Following implementation of a CoCM depression care program at our hospital-based academic primary care practice, we observed a low rate of retention with the use of problem solving therapy/behavioral activation (PST/BA). Our aim in this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT), an evidence-based, flexible strategy that focuses on the relationship between depression and interpersonal challenges, compared to PST/BA. In 2015, most patients enrolled in our CoCM received PST/BA. In 2016, most patients received IPT. Patients who were enrolled and discharged from our CoCM depression care program in the years 2015 and 2016 and received either PST/BA or IPT, were included. Our primary measure was the difference in change in PHQ-9 score between the PST/BA and the IPT groups. Secondary outcomes included the difference in the change in GAD-7 score and measures of glycemic and blood pressure control between the two groups. Two hundred thirty four patients were included in our analysis. One hundred sixty five received PST/BA and 69 received IPT. There was no difference between groups in baseline demographics or measures of depression, anxiety, presence of hypertension, or presence of prediabetes/diabetes. Our pri...
Source: Psychiatric Quarterly - Category: Psychiatry Source Type: research