Moderators of remission with interpersonal counselling or drug treatment in primary care patients with depression: randomised controlled trial

Abstract

We identified some patient characteristics predicting a differential outcome with pharmacological and psychological interventions. Should our results be confirmed in future studies, these characteristics will help clinicians to define criteria for first-line treatment of depression targeted to patients' characteristics.

Is interpersonal counselling (IPC) sufficient treatment for depression in primary care patients? A pilot study comparing IPC and interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT)

“…The results of this preliminary study show that both IPC and IPT are helpful for previously untreated primary care patients with mild to moderate major depression. The remission rate for the IPC group in BDI, 61%, was approximately the same as in the earlier, shorter follow-up study of Menchetti et al (2014), in which the proportion of depressed primary care patients who achieved remission on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD, 21-item) after two months of IPC was 59%. Comparison of the results with those of practice-based studies in routine service settings is more complicated, because the recovery rates depend upon how the sample is chosen (Barkham et al, 2012).…”

“…Menchetti et al (2014) recently evaluated the efficacy of IPC as compared with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in 287 depressed primary care patients in Italy. The proportion of patients who achieved remission at 2 months following IPC was 58.7%, significantly higher than with SSRIs (45.1%).…”

“…The recommended number of therapy sessions was set at 6+1 following the structure of IPC as laid down by Judd et al (2004) and the protocol of Menchetti et al (2010Menchetti et al ( , 2014. It was recommended that the sessions should last 45 minutes (not the original 30 min.).…”

Interpersonal Counseling (IPC) for Depression in Primary Care

“…Menchetti et al (2013) reported that the proportion of patients with mild depression who achieved remission (Hamilton score of 7 or less) at 2 months was significantly higher in the IPC than the SSRI group. Interpersonal Counseling and SSRI appeared equally effective in treating moderate to severe depression.…”

“…Menchetti et al (2010, 2013) conducted a multi-center randomized controlled trial in primary care centers in Italy, comparing the effectiveness of IPC to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Patients with depressive symptoms were referred by primary care physicians.…”