A randomized trial of relapse prevention of depression in primary care

Background: Despite high rates of relapse and recurrence, few primary care patients with recurrent or chronic depression are receiving continuation an d maintenance-phase treatment. We hypothesized that a relapse prevention in tervention would improve adherence to antidepressant medication and improve depression outcomes in high-risk patients compared with usual primary care . Methods: Three hundred eighty-six patients with recurrent major depression or dysthymia who had largely recovered after 8 weeks of antidepressant trea tment by their primary care physicians were randomized to a relapse prevent ion program (n = 194) or usual primary care (n = 192), Patients in the inte rvention group received 2 primary care visits with a depression specialist and 3 telephone visits over a 1-year period aimed at enhancing adherence to antidepressant medication, recognition of prodromal symptoms, monitoring o f symptoms, and development of a written relapse prevention plan. Follow-up assessments were completed at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months by a telephone survey team blinded to randomization status. Results: Those in the intervention group had significantly greater adherenc e to adequate dosage of antidepressant medication for 90 days or more withi n the first and second 6-month periods and were significantly more likely t o refill medication prescriptions during the 12-month follow-up compared wi th usual care controls. Intervention patients had significantly fewer depre ssive symptoms: but not fewer episodes of relapse/recurrence over the 12-mo nth follow-up period. Conclusions: A relapse prevention program targeted to primary care patients with a high risk of relapse/recurrence who had largely recovered after ant idepressant treatment significantly improved antidepressant adherence and d epressive symptom outcomes.