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The following is a summary of “Addressing Depression and Comorbid Health Conditions through Solution-focused Brief Therapy in an Integrated Care Setting: a randomized clinical trial,” published in the August 2024 issue of Primary Care by Cooper et al.

Co-occurring physical and mental health conditions are frequently observed in primary care, underscoring the need for sustainable and effective interventions. This study aimed to assess the impact of a Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) intervention on depressive symptoms, anxiety, and co-occurring health conditions such as hypertension, obesity, and diabetes in a primary care setting. Researchers hypothesized that patients receiving the SFBT intervention would experience significant reductions in depression, anxiety, systolic blood pressure (SBP), hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c), and body mass index (BMI) compared to those in the control group. Additionally, the study group anticipated that participants in the SFBT group would report improved well-being.

A randomized clinical trial was conducted at a rural federally qualified health center, enrolling participants who scored ≥10 on the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and had documented co-occurring conditions based on chart reviews. The study involved 80 participants, with 40 assigned to the SFBT intervention group and 40 to the control group, who received treatment as usual (TAU). The SFBT group underwent three therapy sessions over three weeks in addition to standard care. Outcomes were measured using depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7), and well-being (Human Flourishing Index) scores, along with physical health markers, including SBP, BMI, and HbA1c levels.

Of the 80 participants, 69 completed the trial, with 80% identifying as female and a mean age of 38.1 years. The racial composition was predominantly white (72%), followed by Hispanic (15%) and Black (13%). Participants in the SFBT group showed significantly greater reductions in depressive symptoms (baseline: M = 18.17, SD = 3.97; outcome: M = 9.71, SD = 3.71) and anxiety levels (baseline: M = 14.69, SD = 4.9; outcome: M = 8.43, SD = 3.79) compared to the control group. Furthermore, well-being scores in the SFBT group improved markedly (baseline: M = 58.37, SD = 16.36; outcome: M = 73.43, SD = 14.70). However, no statistically significant changes were observed in BMI, SBP, or HbA1c.

In conclusion, the SFBT intervention was effective in significantly reducing depressive and anxiety symptoms and enhancing well-being among primary care patients with co-occurring health conditions. While the intervention did not yield immediate improvements in cardio-metabolic health markers, it highlights the potential of SFBT as a valuable tool for mental health management within primary care settings. Further research is needed to explore its long-term impact on physical health outcomes.

Source: bmcprimcare.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12875-024-02561-8