How Effective Is Algorithm-Guided Treatment for Depressed Inpatients? Results from the Randomized Controlled Multicenter German Algorithm Project 3 Trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Treatment algorithms are considered as key to improve outcomes by enhancing the quality of care. This is the first randomized controlled study to evaluate the clinical effect of algorithm-guided treatment in inpatients with major depressive disorder.

Methods

Inpatients, aged 18 to 70 years with major depressive disorder from 10 German psychiatric departments were randomized to 5 different treatment arms (from 2000 to 2005), 3 of which were standardized stepwise drug treatment algorithms (ALGO). The fourth arm proposed medications and provided less specific recommendations based on a computerized documentation and expert system (CDES), the fifth arm received treatment as usual (TAU). ALGO included 3 different second-step strategies: lithium augmentation (ALGO LA),

SUBMITTER: Adli M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5581493 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature