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Minimal-contact psychotherapy for sub-threshold depression in primary care. Randomised trial.

Willemse GR, Smit F, Cuijpers P, Tiemens BG

Trimbos Institute/Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction, Utrecht, The Netherlands. gwillemse@trimbos.nl.

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.

Published 1 November 2004 in Br J Psychiatry, 185: 416-21.
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