HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS Psychiatric Bulletin Advances in Psychiatric Treatment All RCPsych Journals		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Willemse, G. R. W. M. Articles by Tiemens, B. G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Willemse, G. R. W. M. Articles by Tiemens, B. G.

Minimal-contact psychotherapy for sub-threshold depression in primary care

Randomised trial

Trimbos Institute/Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction, Utrecht

Pim Cuijpers, PhD

Department of Clinical Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, and Trimbos Institute/Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction, Utrecht

Bea G. Tiemens, PhD

Gelderse Roos Institute for Professionalizing, Renkum, The Netherlands

Correspondence: Godelief Willemse, Trimbos Institute, PO Box 725, 3500 AS Utrecht, The Netherlands. E-mail: gwillemse{at}trimbos.nl

Declaration of interest None. Funding detailed in Acknowledgements.

Background Sub-threshold depression is a prognostic variable for major depression. Interventions in sub-threshold depression may prevent the onset of new cases of major depression.

Aims To examine the effects of minimal-contact psychotherapy in primary care patients with sub-threshold depression on the onset of major depression, on the reduction in depressive symptoms and on health-related quality of life.

Method We conducted a randomised trial in primary care, in which patients screened for sub-threshold depression were randomly assigned to minimal-contact psychotherapy (n=107) or to usual care (n=109).

Results One year after baseline, the incidence of major depressive disorder was found to be significantly lower in the psychotherapy group (12%) than in those receiving usual care (18%). Small but significant effects were also found on depressive symptoms and on aspects of health-related quality of life.

Conclusions Primary care patients with sub-threshold depression can benefit from minimal-contact psychotherapy.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. G. Cole Brief Interventions to Prevent Depression in Older Subjects: A Systematic Review of Feasibility and Effectiveness Am J Geriatr Psychiatry, June 1, 2008; 16(6): 435 - 443. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. Smit, H. Comijs, R. Schoevers, P. Cuijpers, D. Deeg, and A. Beekman Target groups for the prevention of late - life anxiety The British Journal of Psychiatry, May 1, 2007; 190(5): 428 - 434. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. A. Schoevers, F. Smit, D. J.H. Deeg, P. Cuijpers, J. Dekker, W. van Tilburg, and A. T.F. Beekman Prevention of Late-Life Depression in Primary Care: Do We Know Where to Begin? Am J Psychiatry, September 1, 2006; 163(9): 1611 - 1621. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. SMIT, G. WILLEMSE, M. KOOPMANSCHAP, S. ONRUST, P. CUIJPERS, and A. BEEKMAN Cost-effectiveness of preventing depression in primary care patients: Randomised trial The British Journal of Psychiatry, April 1, 2006; 188(4): 330 - 336. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K.-l. Edward Resilience: A Protector From Depression Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, August 1, 2005; 11(4): 241 - 243. [Abstract] [PDF]

				Other articles noted Evid. Based Med., June 1, 2005; 10(3): 95 - 96. [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. N. Kennedy and D. R. Sherazi Minimal contact psychotherapy reduces the risk of major depression in people with subthreshold depression Evid. Based Ment. Health, May 1, 2005; 8(2): 39 - 39. [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Moran Tailored CBT Keeps Depression From Becoming More Severe Psychiatr News, December 17, 2004; 39(24): 29 - 29. [Full Text]