Clinical judgement, case complexity and symptom scores as predictors of outcome in depression: an exploratory analysis

Smith, M., Francq, B., McConnachie, A. , Wetherall, K., Pelosi, A. and Morrison, J. (2020) Clinical judgement, case complexity and symptom scores as predictors of outcome in depression: an exploratory analysis. BMC Psychiatry, 20, 125. (doi: 10.1186/s12888-020-02532-0) (PMID:32183799) (PMCID:PMC7076946)

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Abstract

Background: Clinical guidelines for depression in adults recommend the use of outcome measures and stepped care models in routine care. Such measures are based on symptom severity, but response to treatment is likely to also be influenced by personal and contextual factors. This observational study of a routine clinical sample sought to examine the extent to which “symptom severity measures” and “complexity measures” assess different aspects of patient experience, and how they might relate to clinical outcomes, including disengagement from treatment. Methods: Subjects with symptoms of depression (with or without comorbid anxiety) were recruited from people referred to an established Primary Care Mental Health Team using a stepped care model. Each participant completed three baseline symptom measures (the Personal Health Questionnaire (PHQ), Generalised Anxiety Disorder questionnaire (GAD) and Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation (CORE-10)), and two assessments of “case complexity” (the Minnesota-Edinburgh Complexity Assessment Measure (MECAM) and a local complexity assessment). Clinician perception of likely completion of treatment and patient recovery was also assessed. Outcome measures were drop out and clinical improvement on the PHQ. Results: 298 subjects were recruited to the study, of whom 258 had a sufficient dataset available for analysis. Data showed that the three measures of symptom severity used in this study (PHQ, GAD and CORE-10) seemed to be measuring distinct characteristics from those associated with the measures of case complexity (MECAM, previous and current problem count). Higher symptom severity scores were correlated with improved outcomes at the end of treatment, but there was no association between outcome and complexity measures. Clinicians could predict participant drop-out from care with some accuracy, but had no ability to predict outcome from treatment. Conclusions: These results highlight the extent to which drop-out complicates recovery from depression with or without anxiety in real-world settings, and the need to consider other factors beyond symptom severity in planning care. The findings are discussed in relation to a growing body of literature investigating prognostic indicators in the context of models of collaborative care for depression.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:This project was supported by a research grant of £69,000 from NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde Research & Development.
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Wetherall, Miss Kirsty and McConnachie, Professor Alex and Francq, Dr Bernard and Pelosi, Professor Anthony and Morrison, Professor Jill
Authors: Smith, M., Francq, B., McConnachie, A., Wetherall, K., Pelosi, A., and Morrison, J.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Robertson Centre
College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing
College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > General Practice and Primary Care
Journal Name:BMC Psychiatry
Publisher:BioMed Central
ISSN:1471-244X
ISSN (Online):1471-244X
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2020 The Authors
First Published:First published in BMC Psychiatry 20:125
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons Licence

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