Year: 2001 Source: Effective Clinical Practice, v.4, no.4, (July-August 2001), p.163-171 SIEC No: 20090502

A before-after study was used to determine whether limited follow-up of positive findings on depression screening improves recognition & initial management of depression. Consecutive patients in a Veterans Affairs primary care clinic in Oregon were studied, including 160 in the 3 months before & 97 in the 3 months after the intervention began. The mental health nurse received questionnaires for only 39 post-intervention patients. Documentation of depressive symptoms & suicide ideation significantly improved in the postintervention group compared with the preintervention group. Postintervention patients were also more likely to begin receiving antidepressants & to be referred for mental health services. (14 refs.)