Evidence-based models of integrated management of depression in primary care

The majority of primary care clinicians accept the responsibility of treating depression across patients' life span; and mental health specialists must respect and foster this responsibility. Primary care clinicians are ready to entertain more organized monitoring, follow-up, and collaboration with mental health specialists, as long as the issues of care complexity, role clarification, and costs can be resolved. Disseminating the concepts and tools of systems of depression management to primary care practices while simultaneously addressing policy implications at the level of payers and regulators holds considerable promise for translating evidence-based research into improved care for the large numbers of depressed patients in primary care.