Effectiveness of a depression disease management program in improving depression and work function-a pilot study

Objective: We examined whether there were differences in depression and work function outcomes among primary care and specialty mental health patients treated by the Michigan Depression Outreach and Collaborative Care (M-DOCC), a depression care management program, developed by the University of Michigan Depression Center. In addition, we examined the relationship between depressive symptoms and workplace functioning among M-DOCC enrollees over time. Method: We used mixed model and logistic regression analyses. Results: Despite baseline differences in patient characteristics between primary care and specialty care patients, the location of treatment setting was not a significant predictor of depression or work function outcomes over time among patients enrolled in a depression care management program. Patients in both treatment settings showed significant decreases in depressive and functional impairment over time, with improvements in these symptoms occurring concurrently. Patients with greater case severity were less likely to demonstrate depression and work function improvements over time, and more severe side effects were associated with fewer depression symptom improvements over time. Conclusions: Both depression and work function outcomes improved over time among patients enrolled in a depression care management program, and this improvement did not differ based on whether a patient was treated in a primary or specialty care setting.