Intervention for minor depression in primary care patients.

This study examines the effectiveness of an intervention for minor depression in primary care patients. One hundred fifty public care medical patients were randomly assigned to either an 8-week cognitive-behavioral course intended to help them use pleasant activities, constructive thinking, and interpersonal relationships to improve mood or a control condition. Assessments were completed at postintervention, 6 months, and 1 year. The results support the effectiveness of the intervention. Persons with minor depression assigned to the intervention experienced reductions in depressive symptomatology, which persisted through the 1-year follow-up. In addition, the intervention lowered the somatic symptomatology that was associated with minor depression. Finally, those with minor depression who received the intervention missed fewer appointments with their primary care provider during the following year than did those with minor depression who received no intervention. The results from this preliminary evaluation suggest that interventions addressing minor depression in medical patients are feasible and are effective in reducing both depressive symptomatology and associated problems.