Healthcare use and costs among individuals receiving mental health services for depression within primary care in Nepal

ABSTRACT:

Background

Integrating mental health services into primary care is a key strategy for reducing the mental healthcare treatment gap in low- and middle-income countries. We examined healthcare use and costs over time among individuals with depression and subclinical depressive symptoms in Chitwan, Nepal to understand the impact of integrated care on individual and health system resources.

Methods

Individuals diagnosed with depression at ten primary care facilities were randomized to receive a package of integrated care based on the Mental Health Gap Action Programme (treatment group; TG) or this package plus individual psychotherapy (TG + P); individuals with subclinical depressive symptoms received primary care as usual (UC). Primary outcomes were changes in use and health

SUBMITTER: Aldridge L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9804956 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature