Effectiveness Study of a Stepped Care Depression Algorithm for Patients With Cancer

This controlled trial has tested the effectiveness of a socio-culturally tailored depression care program that includes a patient-centered approach to antidepressant medication management or structured psychotherapy (Problem Solving Treatment (PST)), patient/family depression education, treatment maintenance and relapse prevention counseling. Intervention enhancements include: depression care management based on a stepped care depression treatment algorithm; extension of the oncology care management team with a master's degreed social worker, who acts as Cancer Depression Clinical Specialist (CDCS) and provides PST, treatment follow-up and feedback to the oncologist, and who facilitates patient-provider communication and health system and community resources navigation; a psychiatric consultant, who provides supervision of the CDCS and consultation and antidepressant medication prescription for individual patients; and a didactic for oncologists on depression management. Cultural sensitivity and competency enhancements include: patient choice of first line treatment (antidepressant medication/PST) and degree of family participation in their depression care; PST tailored for language and literacy of patients with cancer; bilingual, bicultural CDCS; Spanish educational materials; and communication facilitation. Enhanced Usual Care (EUC) patients will receive the care and services routinely provided patients with cancer plus an educational/resource pamphlet for patients and for family members(on depression and cancer, depression treatment, talking with your doctor about your depression, and medical center and community mental health care resources). With patient consent, the oncologist is informed if EUC patients screen positive for major depression/dysthymia.