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Coordinated care may benefit depression patients

By Staff Writer

Depression is known for being notoriously difficult to treat. Even after seeking help from rehab facilities, some patients aren't able to return to a normal mental state. This is particularly true of individuals who struggle with both depression and another chronic condition, like heart disease or diabetes.

Doctors have long been aware of the association between depression and certain chronic disease. Some have even proposed that a single, underlying factor may cause both conditions. For this reason, therapies that only treat the symptoms of depression may be less effective.

However, a team of researchers from the University of Washington recently studied a new type of treatment strategy that addresses both the physical and mental symptoms of patients. The strategy involved having a nurse coordinate care between patients' primary care physicians and mental health specialists.

The researchers enrolled 214 participants in the study. Half were assigned to receive standard depression treatment, while the others were given more coordinated care. After one year of study, the researchers found that the participants receiving coordinated care had significantly better control of their chronic illnesses as well as fewer depressive symptoms.