Youth Partners in Care: Depression and Quality Improvement

Youth Partners in Care: Depression & Quality Improvement

This randomized effectiveness trial evaluates a quality improvement intervention aimed at providing access to evidence-based depression treatments (particularly cognitive-behavior therapy for depression and or pharmacotherapy) through primary care for youth ages 13-21, as compared to enhanced usual care. The major hypothesis is that the quality improvement intervention will be associated with improved outcomes, relative to enhanced usual care.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Met either of two criteria: 1) endorsed "stem items" for major depression or dysthymia from the 12-month Composite International Diagnostic Interview(CIDI-12,2.1) modified slightly to conform to diagnostic criteria for adolescents, 1-week or more of past-month depressive symptoms, and a total Center for Epidemiological Studies- Depression Scale(CES-D)40 score ≥ 16, or 2) CES-D score ≥ 24.
• Age 13-21
• Presented at primary care clinic

Exclusion Criteria:

• not English-speaking
• provider not in study
• sibling already in study
• completed eligibility screener previously