THE DEPRESSION INITIATIVE. DESCRIPTION OF A COLLABORATIVE CARE MODEL FOR DEPRESSION IN THE PRIMARY CARE SETTING IN THE NETHERLANDS

Objective: To describe the collaborative care model for primary care as it has been developed in the Depression Initiative in the Netherlands from 2006-2010. Method: Review of collaborative care models, and description of the collaborative care models as developed in the Depression Initiative. Results: Collaborative care is a treatment model based on the principles of the chronic care model that aims to translate evidence based treatment for depressive disorder to everyday practice in the primary care setting. It was found to he effective and cost effective, depending on willingness to pay, in the US and the UK. The Depression Initiative is a Nationwide program aimed at implementation of the multidisciplinary guideline for depression in the Netherlands, in which the collaborative care model has been elaborated for three settings: primary care, the occupational health care setting and the general hospital outpatient setting. The model is feasible and first outcomes are positive in the three settings in the Netherlands. Conclusions: Collaborative care as developed in the Depression Initiative in the Netherlands is a promising treatment model for major depression in the primary care setting. The model may be applied in the occupational health setting and the general hospital outpatient setting as well. In the future, anxiety disorder and Medically Unexplained Symptoms may be candidates for treatment with this model.