A community-integrated home based depression intervention for older African Americans: [corrected] description of the Beat the Blues randomized trial and intervention costs

Cost and economic evidence for asset-based approaches to health improvement and their evaluation methods: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Asset-based approaches (ABAs) tackle health inequalities by empowering people in more disadvantaged communities, or targeted populations, to better utilise pre-existing local community-based resources. Using existing resources supports individuals to better manage their own health and its determinants, potentially at low cost. Targeting individuals disengaged with traditional service delivery methods offers further potential for meaningful cost-savings, since these people often require costly care. Thus, improving prevention, and management, of ill-health in these groups may have considerable cost implications.

AIM

To systematically review the extent of current cost and economic evidence on ABAs, and methods used to develop it.

METHODS

Search strategy terms encompassed: i) costing; ii) intervention detail; and iii) locality. Databases searched: Medline, CENTRAL and Wed of Science. Researchers screened 9,116 articles. Risk of bias was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme (CASP) tool. Narrative synthesis summarised findings.

RESULTS

Twelve papers met inclusion criteria, representing eleven different ABAs. Within studies, methods varied widely, not only in design and comparators, but also in terms of included costs and outcome measures. Studies suggested economic efficiency, but lack of suitable comparators made more definitive conclusions difficult.

CONCLUSION

Economic evidence around ABAs is limited. ABAs may be a promising way to engage underserved or minority groups, that may have lower net costs compared to alternative health and wellbeing improvement approaches. ABAs, an example of embedded services, suffer in the context of economic evaluation, which typically consider services as mutually exclusive alternatives. Economics of the surrounding services, mechanisms of information sharing, and collaboration underpin the success of assets and ABAs. The economic evidence, and evaluations in general, would benefit from increased context and detail to help ensure more nuanced and sophisticated understanding of the economics of ABAs. Further evidence is needed to reach conclusions about cost-effectiveness of ABAs.

Acceptability and Feasibility of a Pain and Depressive Symptoms Management Intervention in Middle-Aged and Older African American Women

Background and Objectives

The intersection of race, gender, and age puts older African American women at high risk of experiencing comorbid pain and depressive symptoms. The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a 12-week behavioral activation intervention to target self-selected goals related to pain and depressive symptoms in middle-aged and older African American women.

Research Design and Methods

This randomized waitlist control study included 34 self-identified African American women, 50 years of age or older, with moderate-to-severe chronic pain and depressive symptoms. The intervention consisted of 8 in-person or virtual 1-hour visits with a nurse. Follow-up acceptability assessments were conducted with 10 participants.

Results

The average age of the participants was 64.8 (standard deviation [SD] 10.5). They reported an average pain intensity score of 7.0 (SD 1.9) out of 10 and an average Patient Health Questionnaire-9 depressive symptoms score of 11.9 (SD 4.0) at baseline. Of the 34 participants who consented, 28 (82.4%) women started the intervention and 23 (82.1%) completed the intervention. Participants described the study as useful and beneficial. Participants recommended including a group component in future iterations. Effect sizes at 12 weeks were -0.95 for depressive symptoms indicating a substantial decrease in experienced depressive symptoms, but pain intensity was virtually unchanged (+0.09).

Discussion and Implications

The findings of this study demonstrate that the intervention is acceptable among middle-aged and older African American women and their personal goals were met. Including a group component and identifying effective ways to decrease attrition rates will be key in the next steps of development for this intervention. It is crucial to provide tailored, nonpharmacological approaches to pain, and depression symptom management in older adult populations who experience inequities in pain and mental health outcomes. This study emphasizes the importance of participant-driven goal-setting interventions.

A protocol for a wait list control trial of an intervention to improve pain and depressive symptoms among middle-aged and older African American women

BACKGROUND

Pain and depression frequently co-occur among older adults with comorbidities and can exacerbate one another. The intersection of race, gender and age puts older African American women at high risk of experiencing comorbid pain and depression. The purpose of this study is to test the feasibility and acceptability of a 12-week behavioral activation intervention called DAPPER (Depression and Pain Perseverance through Empowerment and Recovery) that uses non-pharmacological, tailored strategies to target pain and mood symptoms. We will measure pain intensity and depressive symptoms as outcomes, although we are not powered to test differences.

METHODS

We describe the protocol for this study that uses a randomized waitlist control design to examine acceptability and feasibility of an intervention. The study population is comprised of self-identified African American women, 50 years of age or older with chronic pain and who self-report of depressive symptoms. Participants must also be pre-frail or frail and have an ADL or IADL limitation. The intervention consists of eight 1-2-h visits with a nurse interventionist via in-person or virtual telecommunication methods and two visits for non-invasive specimen collection. The primary outcomes include goal attainment, pain and depressive symptoms. Secondary outcomes include stress, frailty, and communication with providers. Follow-up qualitative interviews are conducted with participants to assess intervention acceptability.

DISCUSSION

Findings from this pilot study will provide further evidence supporting the use of non-pharmacological techniques to intervene in the cycle of pain and depression among an at-risk sub-population.

Effectiveness of the Program to Encourage Active, Rewarding Lives (PEARLS) to reduce depression: a multi-state evaluation

Introduction

An estimated 15% of community-dwelling older adults have depressive symptoms in the U.S. The Program to Encourage Active, Rewarding Lives (PEARLS) is an evidence-based program for managing late-life depression. PEARLS is a home/community-based collaborative care model delivered by community-based organizations to improve access to quality depression care. Trained staff actively screen for depression to improve recognition, teach problem-solving and activity planning skills for self-management, and connect participants to other supports and services as needed.

Methods

This study examined 2015-2021 data from 1,155 PEARLS participants across four states to assess PEARLS effectiveness to reduce depressive symptoms. The clinical outcomes were measured by the self-reported PHQ-9 instrument to assess changes in depressive symptoms scored as depression-related severity, clinical remission, and clinical response. A generalized estimating equation (GEE) model was fitted to examine changes in composite PHQ-9 scores from baseline to the final session. The model adjusted for participants' age, gender, race/ethnicity, education level, income level, marital status, number of chronic conditions, and number of PEARLS sessions attended. Cox proportional hazards regression models were conducted to estimate the hazard ratio for improvement of depressive symptoms (i.e., remission or response), while adjusting for the covariates.

Results

PHQ-9 scale scores significantly improved from baseline to their final sessions (mean difference = -5.67, SEM = 0.16, p < 0.001). About 35% of participants achieved remission with PHQ-9 score < 5. Compared to participants with mild depression, patients with moderate depression (HR = 0.43, 95%CI = 0.35-0.55), moderately severe depression (HR = 0.28, 95%CI = 0.21-0.38), and severe depression (HR = 0.22 95%CI = 0.14-0.34) were less likely to experience clinical remission with PHQ-9 score < 5, while adjusting for the covariates. About 73% achieved remission based on no longer having one or both cardinal symptoms. Compared to participants with mild depression, patients with moderate depression (HR = 0.66, 95%CI = 0.56-0.78), moderately severe depression (HR = 0.46, 95%CI = 0.38-0.56), and severe depression (HR = 0.38, 95%CI = 0.29-0.51) were less likely to experience clinical remission, while adjusting for the covariates. Nearly 49% of participants had a clinical response or a ≥ 50% decrease in PHQ-9 scores over time. There were no differences between the severity of depression groups based on the time to clinical response.

Discussion

Findings confirm that PEARLS is an effective program to improve depressive symptoms among older adults in diverse real-world community settings and can be a more accessible option for depressive older adults who are traditionally underserved by clinical care.

Control interventions in randomised trials among people with mental health disorders

BACKGROUND

Control interventions in randomised trials provide a frame of reference for the experimental interventions and enable estimations of causality. In the case of randomised trials assessing patients with mental health disorders, many different control interventions are used, and the choice of control intervention may have considerable impact on the estimated effects of the treatments being evaluated.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the benefits and harms of typical control interventions in randomised trials with patients with mental health disorders. The difference in effects between control interventions translates directly to the impact a control group has on the estimated effect of an experimental intervention. We aimed primarily to assess the difference in effects between (i) wait-list versus no-treatment, (ii) usual care versus wait-list or no-treatment, and (iii) placebo interventions (all placebo interventions combined or psychological, pharmacological, and physical placebos individually) versus wait-list or no-treatment. Wait-list patients are offered the experimental intervention by the researchers after the trial has been finalised if it offers more benefits than harms, while no-treatment participants are not offered the experimental intervention by the researchers.

SEARCH METHODS

In March 2018, we searched MEDLINE, PsycInfo, Embase, CENTRAL, and seven other databases and six trials registers.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomised trials assessing patients with a mental health disorder that compared wait-list, usual care, or placebo interventions with wait-list or no-treatment .

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Titles, abstracts, and full texts were reviewed for eligibility. Review authors independently extracted data and assessed risk of bias using Cochrane's risk of bias tool. GRADE was used to assess the quality of the evidence. We contacted researchers working in the field to ask for data from additional published and unpublished trials. A pre-planned decision hierarchy was used to select one benefit and one harm outcome from each trial. For the assessment of benefits, we summarised continuous data as standardised mean differences (SMDs) and dichotomous data as risk ratios (RRs). We used risk differences (RDs) for the assessment of adverse events. We used random-effects models for all statistical analyses. We used subgroup analysis to explore potential causes for heterogeneity (e.g. type of placebo) and sensitivity analyses to explore the robustness of the primary analyses (e.g. fixed-effect model).

MAIN RESULTS

We included 96 randomised trials (4200 participants), ranging from 8 to 393 participants in each trial. 83 trials (3614 participants) provided usable data. The trials included 15 different mental health disorders, the most common being anxiety (25 trials), depression (16 trials), and sleep-wake disorders (11 trials). All 96 trials were assessed as high risk of bias partly because of the inability to blind participants and personnel in trials with two control interventions. The quality of evidence was rated low to very low, mostly due to risk of bias, imprecision in estimates, and heterogeneity. Only one trial compared wait-list versus no-treatment directly but the authors were not able to provide us with any usable data on the comparison. Five trials compared usual care versus wait-list or no-treatment and found a SMD -0.33 (95% CI -0.83 to 0.16, I² = 86%, 523 participants) on benefits. The difference between all placebo interventions combined versus wait-list or no-treatment was SMD -0.37 (95% CI -0.49 to -0.25, I² = 41%, 65 trials, 2446 participants) on benefits. There was evidence of some asymmetry in the funnel plot (Egger's test P value of 0.087). Almost all the trials were small. Subgroup analysis found a moderate effect in favour of psychological placebos SMD -0.49 (95% CI -0.64 to -0.30; I² = 53%, 39 trials, 1656 participants). The effect of pharmacological placebos versus wait-list or no-treatment on benefits was SMD -0.14 (95% CI -0.39 to 0.11, 9 trials, 279 participants) and the effect of physical placebos was SMD -0.21 (95% CI -0.35 to -0.08, I² = 0%, 17 trials, 896 participants). We found large variations in effect sizes in the psychological and pharmacological placebo comparisons. For specific mental health disorders, we found significant differences in favour of all placebos for sleep-wake disorders, major depressive disorder, and anxiety disorders, but the analyses were imprecise due to sparse data. We found no significant differences in harms for any of the comparisons but the analyses suffered from sparse data. When using a fixed-effect model in a sensitivity analysis on the comparison for usual care versus wait-list and no-treatment, the results were significant with an SMD of -0.46 (95 % CI -0.64 to -0.28). We reported an alternative risk of bias model where we excluded the blinding domains seeing how issues with blinding may be seen as part of the review investigation itself. However, this did not markedly change the overall risk of bias profile as most of the trials still included one or more unclear bias domains.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

We found marked variations in effects between placebo versus no-treatment and wait-list and between subtypes of placebo with the same comparisons. Almost all the trials were small with considerable methodological and clinical variability in factors such as mental health population, contents of the included control interventions, and outcome domains. All trials were assessed as high risk of bias and the evidence quality was low to very low. When researchers decide to use placebos or usual care control interventions in trials with people with mental health disorders it will often lead to lower estimated effects of the experimental intervention than when using wait-list or no-treatment controls. The choice of a control intervention therefore has considerable impact on how effective a mental health treatment appears to be. Methodological guideline development is needed to reach a consensus on future standards for the design and reporting of control interventions in mental health intervention research.

A Narrative Review of Empirical Literature of Behavioral Activation Treatment for Depression

Grounded in the profound tradition of behaviorism theory and research, behavioral activation (BA) has become a standalone psychotherapy for depression. It is simple, straightforward, and easy to comprehend, with comparable efficacy to traditional CBT, and has developed into an evidence-based guided self-help intervention. The main work in the theoretical models and treatment manuals, as well as empirical evidence of the effectiveness of BA for (comorbid) depression in primary and medical care setting are introduced. With the rise of the third wave of CBT, therapeutic components across diagnoses will be incorporated into BA (e.g., mindfulness). Extensive studies are required to examine the neurobiological reward mechanism of BA for depression, and to explore the feasibility and necessity of e-mental health BA application into the public healthcare system in China.

Mental health of homebound older adults in China

The mental health status of the homebound population in China is relatively overlooked. A sample of 1,301 older adults from Shandong Province was used to compare the mental health status among homebound, semi-homebound, and non-homebound older adults in China, and examine the moderation effects of loneliness and gender. This study found that, controlling for demographic and physical health status, the homebound population was more likely to have worse mental health status than non-homebound older adults. Experiencing loneliness intensified the adverse effects of being homebound on older adults' mental health. The negative effects of being semi-homebound on mental health were more pronounced among older males than females. Findings from this study suggested that homebound older adults in China experienced psychological challenges. Social programs and interventions may be designed to improve this population's mental health.

Cost-Benefit Analysis of the COPE Program for Persons Living With Dementia: Toward a Payment Model

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

There is a critical need for effective interventions to support quality of life for persons living with dementia and their caregivers. Growing evidence supports nonpharmacologic programs that provide care management, disease education, skills training, and support. This cost-benefit analysis examined whether the Care of Persons with Dementia in their Environments (COPE) program achieves cost savings when incorporated into Connecticut's home- and community-based services (HCBS), which are state- and Medicaid-funded.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Findings are based on a pragmatic trial where persons living with dementia and their caregiver dyads were randomly assigned to COPE with HCBS, or HCBS alone. Cost measures included those relevant to HCBS decision makers: intervention delivery, health care utilization, caregiver time, formal care, and social services. Data sources included care management records and caregiver report.

RESULTS

Per-dyad mean cost savings at 12 months were $2 354 for those who received COPE with a mean difference-in-difference of -$6 667 versus HCBS alone (95% CI: -$15 473, $2 734; not statistically significant). COPE costs would consume 5.6%-11.3% of Connecticut's HCBS annual spending limit, and HCBS cost-sharing requirements align with participants' willingness to pay for COPE.

DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS

COPE represents a potentially cost-saving dementia care service that could be financed through existing Connecticut HCBS. HCBS programs represent an important, sustainable payment model for delivering nonpharmacological dementia interventions such as COPE.

Long-term depression incidence and associated mortality among African American and White prostate cancer survivors

BACKGROUND

Depression is common after a diagnosis of prostate cancer and may contribute to poor outcomes, particularly among African Americans. The authors assessed the incidence and management of depression and its impact on overall mortality among African American and White veterans with localized prostate cancer.

METHODS

The authors used the Veterans Health Administration Corporate Data Warehouse to identify 40,412 African American and non-Hispanic White men diagnosed with localized prostate cancer from 2001 to 2013. Patients were followed through 2019. Multivariable logistic regression was used to measure associations between race and incident depression, which were ascertained from administrative and depression screening data. Cox proportional hazards models were used to measure associations between incident depression and all-cause mortality, with race-by-depression interactions used to assess disparities.

RESULTS

Overall, 10,013 veterans (24.5%) were diagnosed with depression after a diagnosis of prostate cancer. Incident depression was associated with higher all-cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.27; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.23-1.32). African American veterans were more likely than White veterans to be diagnosed with depression (29.3% vs 23.2%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.15; 95% CI, 1.09-1.21). Among those with depression, African Americans were less likely to be prescribed an antidepressant (30.4% vs 31.7%; aOR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.77-0.93). The hazard of all-cause mortality associated with depression was greater for African American veterans than White veterans (aHR, 1.32 [95% CI, 1.26-1.38] vs 1.15 [95% CI, 1.07-1.24]; race-by-depression interaction P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Incident depression is common among prostate cancer survivors and is associated with higher mortality, particularly among African American men. Patient-centered strategies to manage incident depression may be critical to reducing disparities in prostate cancer outcomes.

A randomized clinical trial of a collaborative home-based diabetes intervention to reduce emergency department visits and hospitalizations in black individuals with diabetes

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) in black individuals (blacks) is twice that of white individuals (whites), and blacks are more likely to have worse glycemic control, less optimal medication regimens, and higher levels of mistrust in the medical system. These three factors account for higher rates of acute medical care use in blacks with DM. To address this disparity, we developed DM I-TEAM (Diabetes Interprofessional Team to Enhance Adherence to Medical Care), a home-based multidisciplinary behavioral intervention that integrates care from a community health worker (CHW), the participant's primary care physician (PCP), a DM nurse educator, and a clinical pharmacist. Treatment is delivered during 9 sessions over 1 year, and includes diabetes education and goal setting, telehealth visits with participants' PCP and a DM nurse educator, and comprehensive medication reviews by a pharmacist. We describe the rationale and methods for a randomized controlled trial to test the efficacy of DM I-TEAM to reduce emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations. We are enrolling 200 blacks with DM during an ED visit. Participants are randomized to DM I-TEAM or Usual Medical Care (UMC). Follow-up assessments are conducted at 6 and 12 months. The primary outcome is the number of ED visits and hospitalizations over 12 months, and is measured by participant self-report and medical record review. Secondary outcomes include hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), number of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs), and trust in health care.

The Role of County Characteristics in Mental Health Service Use by Older African Americans

OBJECTIVE

Older African Americans may underutilize mental health services, although they experience mental health problems at rates comparable with those of whites. Untreated mental disorders contribute to increased risk of morbidity and mortality and decreased quality of life, and therefore, understanding the factors that influence racial disparities in service use is critical. This study examined whether county characteristics were associated with mental health service use by older African Americans after the analyses adjusted for individual characteristics.

METHODS

This study combined individual-level data from the 2008-2012 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey with county-level data for 2008-2012 from the 2013-2014 Area Health Resources Files and county-level data from the 2008-2012 Chronic Conditions Report of the Chronic Conditions Data Warehouse for 1,567 community-dwelling African Americans ages 60 and older. Multilevel logistic regressions were used to examine the role of county characteristics on mental health services use with adjustment for individual-level risk factors.

RESULTS

At the county level, individuals living in a county with a higher proportion of African Americans were less likely to use mental health services. At the individual level, higher income and mental health status were associated with mental health service utilization.

CONCLUSIONS

Among older African Americans, the racial composition of one's county of residence played a role in mental health service use, indicating the need for future research focusing on the relationship between an area's racial composition and mental health service use. Programs may be able to ameliorate racial disparities in mental health care by targeting areas with a higher percentage of African Americans.

Effectiveness of peer counseling, social engagement, and combination interventions in improving depressive symptoms of community-dwelling Filipino senior citizens

INTRODUCTION

Little is known about community-based interventions for geriatric depression in low-resource settings. This study assessed the effectiveness of 3-month-duration interventions with peer counseling, social engagement, and combination vs. control in improving depressive symptoms of community-dwelling Filipino senior citizens.

METHODS

We conducted an open (non-blinded), non-randomized trial of senior citizens at risk for depression. Three different 3-month interventions included peer counseling (n = 65), social engagement (n = 66), and combination (n = 65) were compared with the control group (n = 68). We assessed geriatric depression, psychological resilience, perceived social support, loneliness, and working alliance scores at baseline and three months after the intervention. This trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier: NCT03989284.

RESULTS

Geriatric depression score over three months significantly improved in all intervention groups (control as reference). Significant improvements were also seen in psychological resilience and social support. Not all interventions, however, significantly improved the loneliness score. The combination group showed the largest effect of improving depressive symptoms (d = -1.33) whereas the social engagement group showed the largest effect of improving psychological resilience (d = 1.40), perceived social support (d = 1.07), and loneliness (d = -0.36) among senior citizens.

CONCLUSION

At the community level, peer counseling, social engagement, and combination interventions were effective in improving depressive symptoms, psychological resilience, and social support among Filipino senior citizens. This study shows that it is feasible to identify senior citizens at risk for depression in the community and intervene effectively to improve their mental health. Further studies are required to target loneliness and investigate the long-term benefits of the interventions.

CLINICAL TRIAL

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03989284.

Embedding caregiver support in community-based services for older adults: A multi-site randomized trial to test the Adult Day Service Plus Program (ADS Plus)

There are over five million people in the United States living with dementia. Most live at home and are cared for by family. These family caregivers often assume care responsibilities without education about the disease, skills training, or support, and in turn become at risk for depression, burden, and adverse health outcomes when compared to non-dementia caregivers. Despite over 200 caregiver interventions with proven benefits, many caregivers lack access to these programs. One approach to enhance access is to embed evidence-based caregiver support programs in existing community-based services for people with dementia such as adult day services (ADS). Here we describe the protocol for an embedded pragmatic trial designed to augment standard ADS known as ADS Plus. ADS Plus provides family caregivers with support via education, referrals, and problem-solving techniques over 12 months, and is delivered on-site by existing ADS staff. Embedding a program in ADS requires an understanding of outcomes and implementation processes in that specific context. Thus, we deploy a hybrid design involving a cluster randomized two-group trial to evaluate treatment effects on caregiver wellbeing, ADS utilization, as well as nursing home placement. We describe implementation practices in 30 to 50 geographically and racially/ethnically diverse participating sites. Clinical trial registration #: NCT02927821.

Effect of a Biobehavioral Environmental Approach on Disability Among Low-Income Older Adults: A Randomized Clinical Trial

IMPORTANCE

Disability among older adults is a strong predictor of health outcomes, health service use, and health care costs. Few interventions have reduced disability among older adults.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether a 10-session, home-based, multidisciplinary program reduces disability.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

In this randomized clinical trial of 300 low-income community-dwelling adults with a disability in Baltimore, Maryland, between March 18, 2012, and April 29, 2016, 65 years or older, cognitively intact, and with self-reported difficulty with 1 or more activities of daily living (ADLs) or 2 or more instrumental ADLs (IADLs), participants were interviewed in their home at baseline, 5 months (end point), and 12 months (follow-up) by trained research assistants who were masked to the group allocation. Participants were randomized to either the intervention (CAPABLE) group (n = 152) or the attention control group (n = 148) through a computer-based assignment scheme, stratified by sex in randomized blocks. Intention-to-treat analysis was used to assess the intervention. Data were analyzed from September 2017 through August 2018.

INTERVENTIONS

The CAPABLE group received up to 10 home visits over 5 months by occupational therapists, registered nurses, and home modifiers to address self-identified functional goals by enhancing individual capacity and the home environment. The control group received 10 social home visits by a research assistant.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Disability with ADLs or IADLs at 5 months. Each ADL and IADL task was self-scored from 0 to 2 according to whether in the previous month the person did not have difficulty and did not need help (0), did not need help but had difficulty (1), or needed help regardless of difficulty (2). The overall score ranged from 0 to 16 points.

RESULTS

Of the 300 people randomized to either the CAPABLE group (n = 152) or the control group (n = 148), 133 of the CAPABLE participants (87.5%) were women with a mean (SD) age of 75.7 (7.6) years; 126 (82.9%) self-identified as black. Of the controls, 129 (87.2%) were women with a mean (SD) age of 75.4 (7.4) years; 133 (89.9%) self-identified as black. CAPABLE participation resulted in 30% reduction in ADL disability scores at 5 months (relative risk [RR], 0.70; 95% CI, 0.54-0.93; P = .01) vs control participation. CAPABLE participation resulted in a statistically nonsignificant 17% reduction in IADL disability scores (RR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.65-1.06; P = .13) vs control participation. Participants in the CAPABLE group vs those in the control group were more likely to report that the program made their life easier (82.3% vs 43.1%; P < .001), helped them take care of themselves (79.8% vs 35.5%; P < .001), and helped them gain confidence in managing daily challenges (79.9% vs 37.7%; P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Low-income community-dwelling older adults who received the CAPABLE intervention experienced substantial decrease in disability; disability may be modifiable through addressing both the person and the environment.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01576133.

MIND at Home-Streamlined: Study protocol for a randomized trial of home-based care coordination for persons with dementia and their caregivers

BACKGROUND

Dementia is associated with high health care costs, premature long-term care (LTC) placement, medical complications, reduced quality of life, and caregiver burden. Most health care providers and systems are not yet organized or equipped to provide comprehensive long-term care management for dementia, although a range of effective symptoms and supportive care approaches exist. The Maximizing Independence at Home-Streamlined (MIND-S) is a promising model of home-based dementia care coordination designed to efficiently improve person-centered outcomes, while reducing care costs. This report describes the rationale and design of an NIA-funded randomized controlled trial to test the impact of MIND-S on time to LTC placement, person with dementia outcomes (unmet needs, behavior, quality of life), family caregiver outcomes (unmet needs, burden), and cost offset at 18 (primary end point) and 24 months, compared to an augmented usual care group.

METHODS

This is a 24-month, parallel group, randomized trial evaluating MIND-S in a cohort of 304 community-living persons with dementia and their family caregivers in Maryland. MIND-S dyads receive 18 months of care coordination by an interdisciplinary team comprised of trained non-clinical community workers (e.g. Memory Care Coordinators), a registered nurse, and a geriatric psychiatrist. Intervention components include in-home dementia-related needs assessments; individualized care planning; implementation of standardized evidence-based care strategy protocols; and ongoing monitoring and reassessment. Outcomes are assessed by blinded evaluators at baseline, 4.5, 9, 13.5, 18, and 24 months.

DISCUSSION

Trial results will provide rigorous data to inform innovations in effective system-level approaches to dementia care.

Valuation of Life as outcome and mediator of a depression intervention for older African Americans: the Get Busy Get Better Trial

OBJECTIVE

Previously, we showed that Get Busy Get Better (GBGB), a 10-session multicomponent home-based, behavioral intervention, reduced depressive symptom severity in older African Americans. As appraising the value of life is associated with depressive symptoms, this study examined whether GBGB enhanced positive appraisals of life and if, in turn, this mediated treatment effects on depressive symptoms.

METHODS

Data were from a single-blind parallel randomized trial involving 208 African Americans (≥55 years old) with depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire, PHQ-9 ≥5). GBGB involved five components: care management, referral/linkage, stress reduction, depression education, and behavioral activation. A 13-item Valuation of Life (VOL) scale with two subfactors (optimism and engagement) was examined as an outcome and as mediating GBGB effects on PHQ-9 scores at 4 months.

RESULTS

Of 208 enrolled African Americans, 180 completed the 4-month interview (87 = GBGB; 93 = control). At 4 months, compared with wait-list control group participants, the GBGB group had improved VOL (difference in mean changes from baseline = 4.67, 95% confidence interval 2.53, 6.80). Structural equation models indicated that enhanced VOL mediated a significant proportion of GBGB's impact on depressive symptoms, explaining 71% of its total effect, and its subfactors (optimism, explaining 67%; engagement, 52%).

CONCLUSION

Valuation of Life appears malleable through an intervention providing resources and activation skills. GBGB's impact on depressive symptoms is attributed in large part to participants' enhanced attachment to life. Attention to VOL as mediator and outcome and the reciprocal relationship between mood and attachment to life is warranted. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A Community-Based Collaborative Care Model to Improve Functional Health in Underserved Community-Dwelling Older Adults

OBJECTIVE

Examine the effects of a 6-month health multidimensional intervention on physical function, bone density, and mood in a diverse sample of community-dwelling older adults at risk for frailty and excess disability.

METHOD

A quasi-experimental, pre- post-program design was implemented. Adults aged 55 years and older ( n = 337, 60% African American) participated in the intervention and received assessments at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months.

RESULTS

Physical function was maintained during the intervention for both African American and White elders but declined at 12 months for both groups ( p < .0001). Symptoms of depression improved during the intervention ( M = 0.65 ± 0.07, M = 0.15 ± 0.04, M = 0.68 ± 0.07, p < .001, respectively) but worsened at 12 months ( M = 0.68 ± 0.07, p < .001). Bone density scores remained stable from baseline (distal: -1.62 ± 1.17, proximal: -2.73 ± 1.85) to 12 months (distal: -1.72 ± 1.21, proximal: -3.11 ± 1.85, ps > .05) for both groups.

DISCUSSION

Program findings may serve as a basis for the development of a randomized, controlled study to provide empirical evidence of intervention efficacy. Such findings may help inform the development of community-based programs to identify vulnerable older adults and provide vital preventative care to decrease frailty and excess disability.

E pluribus unum: Harmonization of physical functioning across intervention studies of middle-aged and older adults

Common scales for physical functioning are not directly comparable without harmonization techniques, complicating attempts to pool data across studies. Our aim was to provide a standardized metric for physical functioning in adults based on basic and instrumental activities of daily living scaled to NIH PROMIS norms. We provide an item bank to compare the difficulty of various physical functioning activities. We used item response theory methods to place 232 basic and instrumental activities of daily living questions, administered across eight intervention studies of middle-aged and older adults (N = 2,556), on a common metric. We compared the scale’s precision to an average z-score of items and evaluated criterion validity based on objective measures of physical functioning and Fried’s frailty criteria. Model-estimated item thresholds were widely distributed across the range of physical functioning. From test information plots, the lowest precision in each dataset was 0.80. Using power calculations, the sample size needed to detect 25% physical functional decline with 80% power based on the physical functioning factor was less than half of what would be needed using an average z-score. The physical functioning factor correlated in expected directions with objective measurements from the Timed Up and Go task, tandem balance, gait speed, chair stands, grip strength, and frailty status. Item-level harmonization enables direct comparison of physical functioning measures across existing and potentially future studies and across levels of function using a nationally representative metric. We identified key thresholds of physical functioning items in an item bank to facilitate clinical and epidemiologic decision-making.

Cost-Effectiveness of Behavior Activation Versus Supportive Therapy on Adherence to Eye Exams in Older African Americans With Diabetes

Although the importance of ophthalmologic screening in diabetic patients is widely recognized by clinicians, the cost-effectiveness of strategies aimed at improving eye care utilization in this population is not well established. A cost-effectiveness analysis was performed comparing behavior activation (BA) to supportive therapy (ST) in activating patients to receive a dilated fundus exam (DFE) and promoting healthy management of diabetes. Two hundred six subjects were randomized to receive either BA or ST between 2009 and 2013. Cost-effectiveness was calculated as incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of BA versus ST. Total costs for BA and ST per participant were $259.02 and $216.12, respectively. At the 6-month follow-up, 87.91% of BA subjects received a DFE compared to 34.48% of ST subjects. The ICER for BA versus ST was $80.29/percent increase in DFE rate. In terms of improving DFE rates, BA was found to be more cost-effective than ST.

Depression Screening and Education: Options to Reduce Barriers to Treatment (DESEO): protocol for an educational intervention study

Background

Barriers to depression treatment among Hispanic populations include persistent stigma, inadequate doctor patient communication (DPC) and resultant sub-optimal use of anti-depressant medications. Stigma is primarily perpetuated due to inadequate disease literacy and cultural factors. Common concerns about depression treatments among Hispanics include fears about the addictive and harmful properties of antidepressants, worries about taking too many pills, and the stigma attached to taking psychotropic medications. The current manuscript presents the study protocol for the Depression Screening and Education: Options to Reduce Barriers to Treatment (DESEO) study funded by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Grants to Support the Hispanic Health Services Research Grant Program.

Methods/Design

DESEO will implement universal screening with a self-report depression screening tool (the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9)) that is presented through a customized web application and a Depression Education Intervention (DEI) designed to increase disease literacy, and dispel myths about depression and its treatment among Hispanic patients thus reducing stigma and increasing treatment engagement. This project will be conducted at one community health center whose patient population is majority Hispanic. The target enrollment for recruitment is 350 patients over the 24-month study period. A one-group, pretest-posttest design will be used to asses knowledge of depression and its treatment and related stigma before, immediately after, and one month post intervention.

Discussion

Primary care settings often are the gateway to identifying undiagnosed mental health disorders, particularly for people with comorbid physical health conditions. This study is unique in that it aims to examine the specific role of patient education as an intervention to increase engagement in depression treatment. By participating in the DEI, it is expected that patients will have time to understand treatment options, participate in shared decision-making with their provider, and increase engagement in treatment of depression which might lead to improved overall health. It is also expected that implementation of the iPad Depression Screening application will increase provider awareness of the incidence and prevalence of depression in their own practice and improve the performance and care the clinic provides.

Trial registration

The study was registered with: NCT02491034 July 2, 2015.

Translation of the Care of Persons with Dementia in their Environments (COPE) intervention in a publicly-funded home care context: Rationale and research design

BACKGROUND

Dementia is the leading cause of loss of independence in older adults worldwide. In the U.S., approximately 15 million family members provide care to relatives with dementia. This paper presents the rationale and design for a translational study in which an evidence-based, non-pharmacologic intervention for older adults with dementia and family caregivers (CGs) is incorporated into a publicly-funded home care program for older adults at risk for nursing home admission.

METHODS

The 4-month Care of Persons with Dementia in their Environments (COPE) intervention is designed to optimize older adults' functional independence, and to improve CG dementia management skills and health-related outcomes. COPE features 10 in-home occupational therapy visits, and 1 in-home visit and 1 telephone contact by an advanced practice nurse. COPE was deemed efficacious in a published randomized clinical trial. In the present study, older adults with dementia enrolled in the Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders (CHCPE) and their CGs are randomly assigned to receive COPE plus their ongoing CHCPE services, or to continue receiving CHCPE services only.

OUTCOMES

The primary outcome for older adults with dementia is functional independence; secondary outcomes are activity engagement, quality of life, and prevention or alleviation of neuropsychiatric symptoms. CG outcomes include perceived well-being and confidence in using activities to manage dementia symptoms. Translational outcomes include net financial benefit of COPE, and feasibility and acceptability of COPE implementation into the CHCPE. COPE has the potential to improve health-related outcomes while saving Medicaid waiver and state revenue-funded home care program costs nationwide.

Merging person-centered care with translational research to improve the lives of older adults: creating community-based nursing research networks

Translational research is a leading trend in science with the aim of bridging the research-practice gap to significantly speed the implementation of effective interventions in clinical practice. Integrating the values and preferences of older adults and their families into this process is critical to the success of translational research. Engaging communities in meaningful research is an important part of advancing translational science in which older adults are partners in developing solutions to the health needs of individuals within communities. The current article describes one approach to developing an infrastructure (i.e., community-based nursing research network) to support patient-centered care within translational research. Nurses are uniquely poised and prepared to assume leadership roles in community-based research networks to support a true collaboration among stakeholders that prizes the voices of older adults and integrates them into practice efforts.

Factors mediating the effects of a depression intervention on functional disability in older African Americans

OBJECTIVES

To determine factors mediating the effects of a depression intervention for older African Americans on functional disability and, secondarily, whether functional improvements mediate intervention effects on depressive symptoms.

DESIGN

Structural equation modeling to examine mediators in a secondary analysis of a randomized trial with 4-month follow-up.

SETTING

Philadelphia region.

PARTICIPANTS

Community-dwelling African Americans (≥55) with depressive symptoms living in an urban area (N = 208).

INTERVENTION

Up to 10 one-hour sessions over 4 months conducted by licensed social workers who provided care management, referrals and linkages, stress reduction techniques, depression knowledge and symptom recognition, and behavioral activation techniques.

MEASUREMENTS

Main outcome was self-reported functional difficulty level for 18 basic activities. Mediators included depression severity (Patient Health Questionnaire), depression knowledge and symptom recognition, behavioral activation, and anxiety.

RESULTS

At 4 months, the intervention had positive effects on functional difficulty and all mediators (P < .001). Separate structural equation models indicated that two factors (reduced depressive symptoms (23.5% mediated) and improved depression knowledge and symptom recognition (52.9% mediated)) significantly mediated the intervention's effect on functional disability. Enhancing behavioral activation and decreasing anxiety were not found to mediate improvements in functional disability. The two significant mediators jointly explained 62.5% of the intervention's total effect on functional disability. Functional improvement was not found to mediate the intervention's effect on depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSION

This multicomponent depression intervention for African Americans has an effect on functional disability that is driven primarily by enhancing symptom recognition and decreasing depressive symptoms. Reduction of functional difficulties did not account for improvements in depressive symptoms. Nonpharmacological treatments for depressive symptoms that enhance symptom recognition in older African Americans can also reduce their functional difficulties with daily living activities.

Mediators of the impact of a home-based intervention (beat the blues) on depressive symptoms among older African Americans

Older African Americans (N = 208) with depressive symptoms were randomly assigned to a home-based nonpharmacologic intervention (Beat the Blues, or BTB) or wait-list control group. BTB was delivered by licensed social workers and involved up to 10 home visits focused on care management, referral and linkage, depression knowledge and efficacy in symptom recognition, instruction in stress reduction techniques, and behavioral activation through identification of personal goals and action plans for achieving them. Structured interviews by assessors masked to study assignment were used to assess changes in depressive symptoms (main trial endpoint), behavioral activation, depression knowledge, formal care service utilization, and anxiety (mediators) at baseline and 4 months. At 4 months, the intervention had a positive effect on depressive symptoms and all mediators except formal care service utilization. Structural equation models indicated that increased activation, enhanced depression knowledge, and decreased anxiety each independently mediated a significant proportion of the intervention's impact on depressive symptoms as assessed with 2 different measures (PHQ-9 and CES-D). These 3 factors also jointly explained over 60% of the intervention's total effect on both indicators of depressive symptoms. Our findings suggest that most of the impact of BTB on depressive symptoms is driven by enhancing activation or becoming active, reducing anxiety, and improving depression knowledge/efficacy. The intervention components appear to work in concert and may be mutually necessary for maximal benefits from treatment to occur. Implications for designing tailored interventions to address depressive symptoms among older African Americans are discussed.

Beat the Blues decreases depression in financially strained older African-American adults

OBJECTIVES

Financial strain, defined as inadequate income to cover basic needs, is related to depression in minority populations. It is unclear whether interventions can improve depression in those reporting financial strain.

DESIGN

Randomized controlled trial.

SETTING

Philadelphia senior center.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 208 African-American adults 55 years of age and older with mild to severe depressive symptoms.

MEASUREMENTS

Beat the Blues (BTB) depression intervention, which includes care management, referral/linkage, stress reduction, depression education, and behavioral activation. Measurements included responses to the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, financial strain, and age.

RESULTS

Although financial strain was related to depressive symptoms at baseline, participants receiving BTB at all levels of financial strain showed reduced depressive symptoms compared with a waitlist control group at 4 months. BTB participants reporting financial strain had a mean (standard deviation) decrease of 6.4 (0.85) points on the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, reflecting a clinically meaningful improvement.

CONCLUSIONS

This nonpharmacologic intervention reduced depressive symptoms in both African-American subjects with and without financial strain. However, screening for and helping people manage financial strain may boost the magnitude of intervention benefit for those with financial strain and should be explored as part of depression care.

A home-based intervention to reduce depressive symptoms and improve quality of life in older African Americans: a randomized trial

BACKGROUND

Effective care models for treating older African Americans with depressive symptoms are needed.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether a home-based intervention alleviates depressive symptoms and improves quality of life in older African Americans.

DESIGN

Parallel, randomized trial stratified by recruitment site. Interviewers assessing outcomes were blinded to treatment assignment. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00511680).

SETTING

A senior center and participants' homes from 2008 to 2010.

PATIENTS

African Americans aged 55 years or older with depressive symptoms.

INTERVENTION

A multicomponent, home-based intervention delivered by social workers or a wait-list control group that received the intervention at 4 months.

MEASUREMENTS

Self-reported depression severity at 4 months (primary outcome) and depression knowledge, quality of life, behavioral activation, anxiety, function, and remission at 4 and 8 months.

RESULTS

Of 208 participants (106 and 102 in the intervention and wait-list groups, respectively), 182 (89 and 93, respectively) completed 4 months and 160 (79 and 81, respectively) completed 8 months. At 4 months, participants in the intervention group showed reduced depression severity (difference in mean change in Patient Health Questionnaire-9 score from baseline, -2.9 [95% CI, -4.6 to -1.2]; difference in mean change in Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale score from baseline, -3.7 [CI, -5.4 to -2.1]); improved depression knowledge, quality of life, behavioral activation, and anxiety (P < 0.001); and improved function (P = 0.014) compared with wait-list participants. More intervention than wait-list participants entered remission at 4 months (43.8% vs. 26.9%). After treatment, control participants showed benefits similar in magnitude to those of participants in the initial intervention group. Those in the initial intervention group maintained benefits at 8 months.

LIMITATION

The study had a small sample, short duration, and differential withdrawal rate.

CONCLUSION

A home-based intervention delivered by social workers could reduce depressive symptoms and enhance quality of life in most older African Americans.

PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE

National Institute of Mental Health.

Comparison of three societally derived health-state classification values among older African Americans with depressive symptoms

PURPOSE

To compare societal values across three health-state classification systems in older African Americans with depression and to describe the association of these instruments to depression severity.

METHODS

We summarized baseline values for EQ-5D (US weights) and HUI2/3 (Canadian weights) and their subscales for 118 older African American participants enrolled in a randomized depression treatment trial and calculated correlations between the different instruments. We evaluated ceiling and floor effects for each instrument by comparing the proportion at the highest and lowest possible score for each tool. Also, utility scores were assessed by level of depression severity (mild, moderate, moderate severe, severe) scores as measured by the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9).

RESULTS

Mean utility values were 0.58 (SD = 0.21) for EQ-5D, 0.52 (SD = 0.21) for HUI2, and 0.36 (SD = 0.31) for HUI3. For the EQ-5D, 72 % of participants reported having some problems on the anxiety/depression domain. On the emotion domain for the HUI2, 23 % reported the highest level of impairment compared to only 3 % on the HUI3. No participant scored at the floor for the EQ-5D, HUI2, or HUI3 index; one participant scored at the ceiling value on the HUI3 index. Correlations ranged from 0.63 to 0.82 (all of which were significant at an alpha level of 0.05). In general, utility scores trended inversely with depression level.

CONCLUSION

Small differences in the three preference-weighted health-state classification systems were evident for this sample of older African Americans with depressive symptoms, with HUI scores lower than EQ-5D. For this sample, utility scores were lower (i.e., poorer) than the general United States population with depression on each utility measure.

Introducing a new intervention: an overview of research phases and common challenges

This article examines the challenges in and progress of behavioral intervention research, the trajectory followed for introducing new interventions, and key considerations in protocol development. Developing and testing health-related behavioral interventions involve an incremental and iterative process to build a robust body of evidence that initially supports feasibility and safety, then proves efficacy and effectiveness, and subsequently involves translation, implementation, and sustainability in a real-world context. This process occurs over close to two decades and yields less than 14% of the evidence being integrated into practice. New hybrid models that blend test phases and involve stakeholders and end users up front in developing and testing interventions may shorten this time frame and enhance adoption of a proven intervention. Knowledge of setting exigencies and implementation challenges may also inform intervention protocol development and facilitate rapid and efficient translation into practice. Although interventions needed to improve the public's health are complex and funding lags behind, introducing new interventions remains a critical and most worthy pursuit.

Depression in Homebound Older Adults: Recent Advances in Screening and Psychosocial Interventions

Homebound older adults are more likely than their ambulatory peers to suffer from depression. Unfortunately, the effectiveness of antidepressant medications alone in such cases is limited. Greater benefits might be realized if patients received both pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy to enhance their skills to cope with their multiple chronic medical conditions, isolation, and mobility impairment; however, referrals to specialty mental health services seldom succeed due to inaccessibility, shortage of geriatric mental health providers, and cost. Since a large proportion of homebound older adults receive case management and other services from aging services network agencies, the integration of mental health services into these agencies is likely to be cost-efficient and effective. This review summarizes recent advances in home-based assessment and psychosocial treatment of depression in homebound recipients of aging services.

Characterizing depression and comorbid medical conditions in African American women in a primary care setting

BACKGROUND

African American women are more likely to seek treatment for depression in primary care settings; however, few women receive guideline-concordant depression treatment in these settings. This investigation focused on the impact of depression on overall functioning in African American women in a primary care setting.

METHODS

Data was collected from a sample of 507 African American women in the waiting room of an urban primary care setting. The majority of women were well-educated, insured, and employed. The CESD-R was used to screen for depression, and participants completed the 36-Item Short-Form Survey to determine functional status.

RESULTS

Among the participants with depression, there was greater functional impairment for role-physical (z = -0.88, 95% CI = -1.13, -0.64) when compared to individuals with diabetes and hypertension. Individuals with depression also had greater role-emotional impairment (z = -1.12, 95% CI = -1.37, -0.87) than individuals with diabetes and hypertension. African American women with comorbid hypertension and depression had greater functional impairment in role-physical when compared to African American women with hypertension and no depression (t(124) = -4.22, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

African American women with depression are more likely to present with greater functional impairment in role function when compared to African American women with diabetes or hypertension. Because African American women often present to primary care settings for treatment of mental illness, primary care providers need to have a clear understanding of the population, as well as the most effective and appropriate interventions.

Collaborative care for depression and anxiety problems

BACKGROUND

Common mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety, are estimated to affect up to 15% of the UK population at any one time, and health care systems worldwide need to implement interventions to reduce the impact and burden of these conditions. Collaborative care is a complex intervention based on chronic disease management models that may be effective in the management of these common mental health problems.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effectiveness of collaborative care for patients with depression or anxiety.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the following databases to February 2012: The Cochrane Collaboration Depression, Anxiety and Neurosis Group (CCDAN) trials registers (CCDANCTR-References and CCDANCTR-Studies) which include relevant randomised controlled trials (RCTs) from MEDLINE (1950 to present), EMBASE (1974 to present), PsycINFO (1967 to present) and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL, all years); the World Health Organization (WHO) trials portal (ICTRP); ClinicalTrials.gov; and CINAHL (to November 2010 only). We screened the reference lists of reports of all included studies and published systematic reviews for reports of additional studies.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of collaborative care for participants of all ages with depression or anxiety.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two independent researchers extracted data using a standardised data extraction sheet. Two independent researchers made 'Risk of bias' assessments using criteria from The Cochrane Collaboration. We combined continuous measures of outcome using standardised mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We combined dichotomous measures using risk ratios (RRs) with 95% CIs. Sensitivity analyses tested the robustness of the results.

MAIN RESULTS

We included seventy-nine RCTs (including 90 relevant comparisons) involving 24,308 participants in the review. Studies varied in terms of risk of bias.The results of primary analyses demonstrated significantly greater improvement in depression outcomes for adults with depression treated with the collaborative care model in the short-term (SMD -0.34, 95% CI -0.41 to -0.27; RR 1.32, 95% CI 1.22 to 1.43), medium-term (SMD -0.28, 95% CI -0.41 to -0.15; RR 1.31, 95% CI 1.17 to 1.48), and long-term (SMD -0.35, 95% CI -0.46 to -0.24; RR 1.29, 95% CI 1.18 to 1.41). However, these significant benefits were not demonstrated into the very long-term (RR 1.12, 95% CI 0.98 to 1.27).The results also demonstrated significantly greater improvement in anxiety outcomes for adults with anxiety treated with the collaborative care model in the short-term (SMD -0.30, 95% CI -0.44 to -0.17; RR 1.50, 95% CI 1.21 to 1.87), medium-term (SMD -0.33, 95% CI -0.47 to -0.19; RR 1.41, 95% CI 1.18 to 1.69), and long-term (SMD -0.20, 95% CI -0.34 to -0.06; RR 1.26, 95% CI 1.11 to 1.42). No comparisons examined the effects of the intervention on anxiety outcomes in the very long-term.There was evidence of benefit in secondary outcomes including medication use, mental health quality of life, and patient satisfaction, although there was less evidence of benefit in physical quality of life.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Collaborative care is associated with significant improvement in depression and anxiety outcomes compared with usual care, and represents a useful addition to clinical pathways for adult patients with depression and anxiety.