Psychological Treatment for Depressed Patients in the Community

Psychological treatment for depression has been shown to be effective for patients in specialty mental health and primary care settings. In this large, multinational, European study, researchers used a population-based survey to identify 452 community residents with depressive disorders (mostly major depression or dysthymia) and without psychosis, acute substance abuse, or suicidality and randomized them to 6 sessions of individual problem-solving therapy provided primarily in patients' homes, 8 sessions of group psychoeducation on the prevention of depression, or no treatment. Allied health professionals (e.g., nurses or psychologists) delivered the treatments.

Acceptability, as determined by completion rates, was greater for problem solvin…