Reducing Suicidal Ideation and Depression in Older Primary Care Patients: 24-Month Outcomes of the PROSPECT Study

The impact of a care management intervention on suicide ideation & depression in older primary care patients was evaluated. Study participants were 599 patients 60 years or older with major or minor depression selected from practices randomly assigned to provide either the intervention or usual care. The intervention consisted of 15 trained care managers who offered recommendations to physicians & helped patients with treatment adherence over 24 months. Results indicated sustained collaborative care maintained high utilization of depression treatment, reduced suicide ideation, & improved the outcomes of major depression over 2 years. (30 refs.) JA