© 2004 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Minimal-contact psychotherapy for sub-threshold depression in primary care
Randomised trial
Trimbos Institute/Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction, Utrecht
Department of Clinical Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, and Trimbos Institute/Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction, Utrecht
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.
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