Approximately 20% of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have major depression, a condition that contributes to suffering but also to poor treatment adherence leading to increased disability and morbidity. This study investigates the effectiveness of a care management intervention aimed at facilitating adherence to a treatment algorithm based on the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) guidelines. The investigators hypothesize that this intervention, in comparison to usual care, will increase the prescription of adequate antidepressant treatment by physicians, enhance treatment adherence by patients, and reduce depressive symptoms, suicide ideation, and disability at a 28-week follow-up period.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
141
The care management intervention aims at facilitating adherence to a treatment algorithm based on the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) guidelines. The investigators hypothesize that this intervention, in comparison to usual care, will increase the prescription of adequate antidepressant treatment by physicians, enhance treatment adherence by patients, and reduce depressive symptoms, suicide ideation, and disability.
For subjects in the Enhanced Care group, physicians providing aftercare will receive no clinical instructions by the research team, but will be informed in writing of the patients' diagnosis and will be provided with a copy of the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) guidelines for the treatment of depression in primary care with an addendum updating the tables describing Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI) side effect and dosage profiles. The investigators expect that these physicians will continue to base their practice on clinical judgment about how best to treat depression in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients.
Helen Hayes Hospital
West Haverstraw, New York, United States
Burke Rehabilitation Hospital
White Plains, New York, United States
Weill Medical College of Cornell University
White Plains, New York, United States
Composite Antidepressant Score Scale (CAD)
The Composite Antidepressant Score scale (CAD) describes the adequacy of an antidepressant's dosage. Scores range from 0-4 with 0, 1, and 2 signifying subthreshold or non-adequate therapeutic dosages while 3 and 4 signify a therapeutic/adequate dosage. The best value is 4 while the worst value is 0.
Time frame: 28 Weeks
Hamilton Depression Rating Scale
The 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) measures the severity of a depressive episode: the higher the score, the more severe the depression. The Best value is 0 and the Worst value is 52.
Time frame: 28 Weeks
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