Individualised problem solving sessions are favoured by people with depression and have similar outcomes to group education strategiesProblem solving treatment and group psycho education for depression: multicentre randomised controlled trial.

Areán, Patricia A.
Dowrick, C
Dunn, G
Ayuso-Mateos, JL
Dalgard, OS
Page, H
Lehtinen, V
Casey, P
Wilkinson, C
Vazquez-Barquero, JL
Wilkinson, G

UCSF Department of Psychiatry, San Francisco, CA 94143-0984, USA

Abstracted from:Dowrick C, Dunn G, Ayuso-Mateos JL, Dalgard OS, Page H, Lehtinen V, Casey P, Wilkinson C, Vazquez-Barquero JL, Wilkinson G. Problem solving treatment and group psycho education for depression: multicentre randomised controlled trial. Br Med J 2000; 321:1450-1454DowrickCDunnGAyuso-MateosJLDalgardOSPageHLehtinenVCaseyPWilkinsonCVazquez-BarqueroJLWilkinsonGProblem solving treatment and group psycho education for depression: multicentre randomised controlled trial.Br Med J20003211450-1454 .

Evidence-based Healthcare 5(3):p 65-66, September 2001.

BACKGROUND

The benefits of drug treatment for depression have been demonstrated in clinical trials but there is evidence that people favour psychological therapy. The acceptability and efficacy of psychological treatments in community settings is unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the acceptability and outcomes of group psycho-education and problem solving treatment for people with depression.

SETTING

Nine urban and rural treatment centres in Finland, Ireland, Norway, Spain, United Kingdom; 1996-1998.

METHOD

Multicentre randomised controlled trial, stratified by centre.

LITERATURE REVIEW

No explicit strategy; 23 references.

PARTICIPANTS

Four hundred and fifty-two 18-65 year olds with depressive or adjustment disorders identified through a community survey.

INTERVENTION

Six individual problem solving sessions with a counsellor; eight educational group sessions about preventing depression; or no intervention.

OUTCOMES

Intervention completion rates; depressive symptoms; functioning.

MAIN RESULTS

Interventions were completed by 63% of those assigned problem solving and 44% assigned group education (P = 0.006). After 6 months, both intervention groups had reduced depression diagnoses and symptoms and enhanced subjective functioning compared to controls. These differences were not evident after 1 year. There were no outcome differences between the two psychological interventions.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

Specific, brief, and easily applicable psychological interventions can have short-term benefits for people with depression. Individualised problem solving sessions are favoured by participants and have similar outcomes to group education strategies.