The clinical and cost-effectiveness of a self-management intervention for patients with persistent depressive disorder and their partners/caregivers: study protocol of a multicenter pragmatic randomized controlled trial

• Published in: Current controlled trials in cardiovascular medicine Vol. 22; no. 1; p. 731
• Main Authors: Solis, Ericka C, Carlier, Ingrid V E, van der Wee, Nic J A, van Hemert, Albert M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 23.10.2021; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Analysis; Bipolar disorder; Care and treatment; Caregivers; Chronic depression; Chronic illnesses; Comorbidity; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Demographic aspects; Depressive Disorder; Diagnosis; Dysthymia; Effectiveness; Humans; Medical care, Cost of; Mental depression; Mixed methods research; Multicenter Studies as Topic; Parkinson's disease; Partner/caregiver; Persistent depressive disorder; Psychiatric rehabilitation; Quality of Life; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Self-Management; Self-management (Psychology); Study Protocol; Treatment Outcome; Netherlands; Self-management; Chronic depression; Persistent depressive disorder; Partner/caregiver; Effectiveness; Psychiatric rehabilitation
• ISSN: 1745-6215; 1745-6215
• DOI: 10.1186/s13063-021-05666-y

After regular treatment, patients with persistent depressive disorder (PDD) may remain in specialized psychiatric outpatient care without achieving remission. Lacking other options, these patients often receive long-term, non-protocolized care as usual (CAU) that does not involve the partner/caregiver of the patient. Although the revised depression treatment guidelines suggest focusing on psychiatric rehabilitation and self-management as the next treatment step for PDD, an evidence-based cost-effective self-management protocol for PDD is lacking. This study investigates the "Patient and Partner Education Program for All Chronic Illnesses" (PPEP4All) as a brief self-management protocol that could lead to lower costs, higher quality of life, and less disease burden in PDD patients and their partners/caregivers. Presented is the rationale and methods of a multicenter pragmatic randomized controlled trial to evaluate the clinical efficacy and cost-effectiveness of PPEP4All for patients with PDD and their partners/caregivers. In accordance with current recommendations, a mixed methods research approach is used with both quantitative and qualitative data. A total of 178 eligible outpatients with PDD and their partners/caregivers are recruited and randomized to either PPEP4All or CAU. Those assigned to PPEP4All receive nine weekly self-management sessions with a trained PPEP4All therapist. Primary and secondary outcome measurements are at 0, 3, 6, and 12 months. This project will result in the implementation of a self-management intervention for patients with PDD, meeting an urgent need in mental healthcare. Using PPEP4All can optimize the quality and efficiency of care for both patients with PDD and their partners/caregivers. Netherlands Trial Register Identifier NTR5973 . Registered on 20 July 2016.