Problem solving is an effective treatment for depression in primary care

Depressive disorders are common in primary care, but many patients are reluctant to take antidepressant drugs. Problem solving treatment is a brief, structured, psychological intervention that can be delivered by practice nurses. On p 26 Mynors-Wallis et al report a study that looked at whether problem solving treatment can be given as effectively by practice nurses as by general practitioners and whether the combination of such treatment and antidepressants is more effective than either alone. They found no differences in outcome between problem solving treatment, antidepressant medication, or a combination for measures of depressive severity or social functioning. This provides further evidence of the suitability of problem solving treatment for depressive disorders in primary care.

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Relevant Article

Randomised controlled trial of problem solving treatment, antidepressant medication, and combined treatment for major depression in primary care

Laurence M Mynors-Wallis, Dennis H Gath, Ann Day, and Frances Baker
BMJ 2000 320: 26-30. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]