Collaborative care model

Indications

• improve treatment of depression in primary care setting

Clinical significance

• associated with better compliance with medication & psychotherapy
• increases patient satisfaction
• greater improvement in depression symptoms than usual care
• costs
  • cost of mental health services increases
  • cost of medications increases
  • total cost of care remains unchanged

Procedure

• multidisciplinary program
• depression case manager
  • often a nurse case manager or psychologist
  • provides psychosocial interventions
  • monitors adherence to treatment
  • coordinates care with primary care physician & psychiatrist

Notes

• Medicare reimburses for Collaborative care model services

More general terms

• case management; chronic care management

More specific terms

• Care Management Plus