Collaborative Technology-Assisted Depression Program for Chronic Disease Patients in Santiago, Chile.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the effectiveness of a collaborative, computer-assisted psycho-educational intervention for managing depression in patients with hypertension and/or diabetes in comparison with usual care in primary care clinics in Santiago, Chile.

METHODS

Adults with moderate-to-severe depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 [PHQ-9] ≥15) enrolled in the Cardiovascular Health Care Program were recruited. The active arm (n = 180) received an eight-session computer-assisted, psycho-educational program, telephone monitoring, and usual care for chronic diseases, while the control group (n = 179) received usual care for depression and chronic diseases. Outcomes were assessed at 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups, with the primary outcome being depression improvement (50% decrease in PHQ-9 score) at 6 months. Intention-to-treat analyses were conducted.

RESULTS

The active arm showed non-statistically significant reductions in depressive symptoms and improvements in mental health-related quality of life, treatment adherence, and health care utilization compared to the control arm.

CONCLUSIONS

While results did not demonstrate statistical difference within the programs to treat the health problems included in the study, the findings support the use of computer-assisted psychoeducation intervention.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: These findings advocate for optimizing current care models by incorporating scalable, evidence-based interventions, such as technology-assisted programs, to address remaining gaps in mental health integration.