Improving Depression Care for Older, Minority Patients in Primary Care

• DOI: 10.1097/01.mlr.0000156852.09920.b1
• Publication Date: 2005-03-18T13:12:44Z
• Authors: Patricia A. Areán; Liat Ayalon; Enid Hunkeler; Elizabeth H.B. Lin; Lingqi Tang; Linda Harpole; Hugh Hendrie; John W. Williams; Jürgen Unützer
• Keywords: Collaborative Care; Depression

Objective: Few older minorities receive adequate treatment of depression in primary care. This study examines whether a collaborative care model for is as effective it nonminority elderly patients improving and outcomes. Study Design: A multisite randomized clinical trial 1801 adults comparing with usual Twelve percent the sample were black (n = 222), 8% Latino 138), 3% 53) from other minority groups. We compared 3 largest ethnic groups (non-Latino white, black, Latino) on severity, quality life, mental health service use at baseline, 3, 6, 12 months after randomization to or Principal Findings: Compared usual, significantly improved rates outcomes whites. At months, intervention (blacks Latinos) had greater both antidepressant medication psychotherapy, lower less health-related functional impairment than participants (64%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 55–72 versus 45%, CI 36–55, P 0.003 medication; 37%, 28–47 13%, 6–19, 0.002 psychotherapy; mean 0.9, 0.8–1.1 1.4, 1.3–1.5, < 0.001 range 0–4; 3.7, 3.2–4.1, 4.7, 4.3–5.1, 0.0001 impairment, 0–10). Conclusions: Collaborative Care more depressed adults, regardless their ethnicity. Intervention effects similar those observed