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Structured case-management programs have been shown to improve clinical outcomes in moderately or severely depressed patients. To determine whether such programs improve work productivity, depression screening was offered to employees of 16 large companies that provided a managed behavioral health plan.
The 604 employees who were identified as depressed were randomized to a depression outreach and care-management program or to usual care (advice to consult with a clinician, but no other intervention). In the intervention group, telephone counselors encouraged participants to enter outpatient treatment (providing psychotherapy, antidepressant medication, or both, plus follow-up by a care manager). Participants who declined in-person therapy w…