Research project: PROMDEP Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMS) in the assessment and follow-up monitoring of patients with depression in Primary Care

This feasibility study will try out the recruitment of six patients undergoing treatment for depression in each of eight general practices over 12 months and assess whether patients, general practitioners, and practice nurses are willing to take part in such a study.  It will test out whether PROMs, including questionnaires for symptoms of depression, daily functioning, quality of life, and problems particular to the individual patient, are acceptable to patients and to their general practitioners and practice nurses.

If using PROMs is beneficial then their use is likely to be very cost-effective given their low cost, and the benefits at a population level would be considerable given how common, disabling and long-lasting depression can be.  The NHS would save money spent on unnecessary antidepressant prescriptions and referrals for psychological (talking) treatments for people with less severe depression, and the nation would also benefit from the earlier recovery of people with more severe depression, reducing the amounts paid to them in sickness benefits and gaining financially from their earlier return to work.  Most importantly, people with depression would be assessed better, and be helped to recover from their illness more quickly.

 

Chief Investigator: Professor Tony Kendrick

Duration: Sep 2014-Aug 2015

Funder: NIHR Research for Patient Benefit Programme

Contact for the study: ark1@soton.ac.uk