Trial of the Clinical and Cost Effectiveness of a Specialist Expert Mood Disorder Team for Refractory Unipolar Depressive Disorder

This is an interventional treatment trial for Chronic Unipolar Depressive Disorder focused on measuring Depression, Collaborative Care, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Mental Health Services, Antidepressants Read More

Inclusion Criteria:

• The responsible medical officer or care coordinator leading care considers the patient to be suffering from a primary unipolar depressive disorder which is not a consequence of having another axis 1 or 2 psychiatric disorder.
• Age over 18 years.
• Able and willing to give oral and written informed consent to participation in the study.
• From the date of first assessment by a health professional working for the index mental health trust, they have been offered or received direct care from one or more health professionals from the Trust three or more occasions for 6 months.
• Meet NICE criteria for moderate depression, namely the presence of five out of nine symptoms of (NICE, 2004), have a Hamilton Depression Rating Scale of at least 20, and score 60 or less on the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale (American Psychiatric Association, 1994).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Is receiving emergency care for suicide risk, risk of severe neglect or homicide risk and requires it; however, patients will not be excluded because of such risk provided the risk is adequately contained with their current care setting and the primary medical responsibility for care remains with the referring team.
• Does not speak fluent English.
• Is pregnant