• New Zealand Guidelines Group. Identification of common mental disorders and management of depression in primary care. Wellington (NZ): New Zealand Guidelines Group; 2008 Jul. 188 p. [580 references]

This is the current release of the guideline.

The grades of recommendation (A-C, and Good Practice Points [GPP]) are defined at the end of the "Major Recommendations" field.

Key Messages

• Mental disorders are common in primary care and are a major cause of disability
• All assessment, support and treatment of mental disorders in primary care should be culturally appropriate
• Routine psychosocial assessment is the key to improving the recognition of common mental disorders
• The use of verbal 2–3 question screening tools is recommended as a support for clinical assessment, when targeting adults at high risk for common mental disorders
• A high index of suspicion is needed for substance use disorder, which is common but often hard to recognise as it is relatively less disabling than other mental disorders
• Most young people and adults with depression can be managed within primary care using a 'stepped care' approach. A good outcome depends on partnership between the patient and practitioner and on provision of active treatment and support for a sufficient length of time
• Planned treatment for depression should reflect the individual's values and preferences and the risks and benefits of different treatment options
• Use of self-management strategies for depression should be encouraged and supported by practitioners
• Psychological and pharmacological therapies are equally effective for treating adults with moderate depression, on the basis of current evidence
• Brief psychological interventions for depression such as structured problem-solving therapy should be available in the primary care setting
• Where antidepressant therapy is planned, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are first-line treatment, with few exceptions

Recognition and Assessment of Common Mental Disorders in Young People/Rangatahi/Tamariki

Recognition of Common Mental Disorders in Young People

C - A young person with serious suicidal intent, psychotic symptoms or severe self-neglect should be referred immediately to secondary care mental health services

C - Every interaction with a young person in primary care should be regarded as an opportunity to assess their psychosocial as well as physical wellbeing. Both strengths and difficulties should be taken into account

C - Psychosocial wellbeing in adolescents should routinely be assessed using a standardised format, such as the HEEADSSS acronym (Home, Education/ Employment, Eating, Activities, Drugs, Sexuality, Suicide, Safety) (see Table 1 below)

C - Adolescents presenting in primary care should routinely be offered individual time with a practitioner

C - Brief tools may be used as optional aids to the practitioner's clinical assessment. Valid brief tools include:

• The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)
• The Short Moods and Feelings Questionnaire (SMFQ)
• Reynolds Adolescent Depression Scale (RADS)
• The Substance Use and Choices Scale (SACS)
• The CRAFFT acronym (A tool designed specifically for adolescents for detecting alcohol and substance abuse, and dependence.)

See "Appendix D: Assessment Tools for Common Mental Disorders" in the original guideline document for links to these tools.

GPP - Practitioners involved in the assessment of young people for mental disorders should endeavour to build a supportive and collaborative relationship with the young person and their family/whānau

GPP - Practitioners should discuss the right to confidentiality and exceptions to confidentiality with the young person

GPP - In young children, a standardised format such as the HEARTS acronym (Home, Education, Activities, Relationships, Temper, Size) should be used for routine assessment of psychosocial wellbeing (see Box 3.3 of the original guideline document)

GPP - Practitioners should be aware of the cultural identity and health care preferences of young people in their care

Asking about Sexual Identity

In order to give a young person the opportunity to acknowledge their sexual identity, the practitioner could say:

• How do you feel about relationships in general/about your own sexuality?
• Some people are getting involved in sexual relationships. Have you had a sexual experience with a guy or girl or both?

Ask for permission to pass relevant information to other health professionals involved in the young person's care. This may save them the stress of having to explain themselves anew.

Determining Severity in Young People and When to Refer

C - A young person with serious suicidal intent, psychotic symptoms or severe self-neglect should be referred immediately to secondary care mental health services

C - A young person with severe depression should be referred urgently to secondary care mental health services

GPP - A young person with suspected bipolar disorder should be referred urgently to secondary care mental health services

Management of Depression in Young People/Rangatahi/Tamariki

Management of Depression in Young People

C - A young person with serious suicidal intent, psychotic symptoms or severe self-neglect should be referred immediately to secondary care mental health services

C - A young person with severe depression should be referred urgently to secondary care mental health services

C - Practitioners involved in the management of a young person with depression, should endeavour to build a supportive and collaborative relationship with the young person and their family/whānau

C - A young person with mild or moderate depression should typically be managed within primary care services

C - Practitioners should consider involving support services such as school guidance counsellors or family services in the management of a young person with depression

C - If a young person with depression does not report substantial improvement after 6–8 weeks of treatment, he/she should be referred to secondary care mental health services

C - Antidepressant treatment of a young person (<18 years) should not be initiated in primary care without consultation with a child and adolescent psychiatrist

GPP - When planning management of a young person with depression, practitioners should consider symptom severity, symptom persistence, functional impairment, response to any previous intervention and also the wider psychosocial context, identifying factors that may impact positively or negatively on outcome

GPP - Initial management in primary care of a young person with mild to moderate depression should include active listening, problem identification, advice about simple self-management strategies and systematic follow-up comprising 2-weekly monitoring (e.g., by phone/text/email)

GPP - A young person being treated for depression in primary care should be seen for reassessment at 2–4 weeks

GPP - A young person who reports improvement with treatment in primary care should be proactively monitored (by phone, email, text, or face-to-face) 1–2 monthly until he/she has a satisfactory response to treatment (remission of symptoms/return to normal function). He/she should have an action plan to use if symptoms recur (i.e., what to do and who to contact)

GPP - If the young person reports no improvement at 2–4 weeks, he/she should receive an extended appointment for intensified support. A simple psychological intervention such as structured problem-solving therapy should be offered

GPP - If the young person reports deterioration in symptoms at 2–4 weeks, either treatment should be intensified or he/she should be referred to secondary care mental health services, depending on the severity of symptoms

GPP - Counselling for young people in primary care should use a recognized therapeutic approach which targets depression and related problems and which focuses on resilience and behavioural support

GPP - If another health practitioner delivers psychotherapy to a young person with depression in primary care, there should be regular communication about the young person's progress

Recognition and Assessment of Common Mental Disorders in Adults/Pakeke

Recognition of Common Mental Disorders in Adults

C - An adult with serious suicidal intent, psychotic symptoms or severe and persistent self-neglect should be referred immediately to secondary care mental health services

C - Targeted screening for common mental disorders is indicated for adults not well-known to the practitioner and for:

• People with chronic illness, a history of mental disorder or suicide attempt, multiple symptoms or a recent significant loss
• Other high prevalence groups, such as Māori (especially Māori women) and older adults in residential care
• Women in the antenatal and postnatal period

B - Targeted screening for depression and anxiety should include the use of verbal 2–3 question screening tools (see Table 2 below)

GPP - Every interaction with an adult in primary care should be regarded as an opportunity to assess their psychosocial as well as physical wellbeing. Both strengths and difficulties should be taken into account

GPP - The practitioner should strive to establish and maintain a good therapeutic relationship with the patient, as this increases the likelihood that mental disorders will be identified

GPP - Targeted screening for substance abuse should comprise a verbal 2–3 question screening tool

GPP - Targeted screening should be conducted annually

GPP - Brief tools are optional aids for use by the primary care practitioner as an adjunct to clinical assessment. Examples of brief tools include:

• The Kessler 10 (K10)
• The Patient Health Questionnaire for Depression (PHQ-9)
• The Generalised Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7)
• The Alcohol Disorder Use Identification Test (AUDIT)
• The Case-finding and Help Assessment Tool (CHAT)

See "Appendix D: Assessment Tools for Common Mental Disorders" in the original guideline document for links to the above tools.

GPP - Practitioners should be aware of the cultural identity and health care preferences of people in their care

Determining Severity in Adults and When to Refer

Assessing Severity of Depression and When to Refer

C - An adult with serious suicidal intent, psychotic symptoms or severe and persistent self-neglect should be referred immediately to secondary care mental health services

B - Practitioners should consider the use of a tool such as the Patient Health Questionnaire for Depression (PHQ-9) for assessment of the severity of depression

GPP - An adult with suspected new-onset bipolar disorder should be referred urgently to secondary care mental health services

GPP - When assessing the severity of depression in an adult and planning management, practitioners should consider symptom severity, symptom persistence, functional impairment, response to any previous intervention and also the wider psychosocial context, identifying factors that may impact positively or negatively on outcome

Management of Depression in Adults/Pakeke

Management of Depression in Adults

C - An adult with serious suicidal intent, psychotic symptoms or severe and persistent self-neglect should be referred immediately to secondary care mental health services

C - First-line treatment for an adult with mild depression is active support, advice on exercise and self-management, and referral to psychosocial helping agencies as required (e.g., relationship counselling)

B - First-line treatment for an adult with moderate depression is either an SSRI or a psychological therapy (e.g., 6–8 sessions of problem-solving therapy or cognitive behavioural therapy [CBT] over 10–12 weeks)

B - For an adult presenting initially with severe depression, the practitioner should consider a combination of antidepressant medication with a structured psychological intervention (e.g., CBT or interpersonal psychotherapy [IPT], 16–20 sessions)

C - An adult starting antidepressant treatment who is considered at increased risk of suicide or is younger than 30 years should be followed up at 1 week and monitored 1–2 weekly, preferably face-to-face, until the risk is no longer considered significant, then at least 2 weekly until there is clear improvement

C - An adult starting antidepressant treatment who is not considered at increased risk of suicide should be reviewed by the health practitioner within 1–2 weeks and monitored at least 2 weekly until there is clear improvement

C - If an adult on antidepressant medication has had only a partial response after 3–4 weeks, consider increasing the dose

C - If an adult on antidepressant medication has not responded to treatment by 4–6 weeks, review the treatment plan and consider either increasing the dose, changing the antidepressant, or changing or adding a psychological therapy

B - An adult being treated for depression should be actively monitored and supported (e.g., by phone, text, email or face-to-face) by an appropriately trained member of the primary care team, informed by clear treatment protocols

B - Practitioners should consider the use of a tool such as the Patient Health Questionnaire for Depression (PHQ-9) to assist in the monitoring of treatment response in an adult with depression

C - If another health practitioner delivers psychotherapy to an adult with depression, the primary care team should be in regular communication about the individual's progress

C - An adult with depression who is treatment resistant should be referred urgently to secondary care mental health services while continuing treatment. Treatment resistance is defined as an unsatisfactory response after adequate trial of two antidepressants (with or without psychological therapy)

B - An adult with depression who is responding to antidepressant treatment should normally continue to take the antidepressant for at least 6 months after remission of an episode of depression in order to reduce the risk of relapse

GPP - When planning the management of an adult with depression, the practitioner should consider: symptom severity and symptom persistence; functional impairment; response to any previous intervention; and the individual's wider psychosocial context, identifying factors that may impact positively or negatively on outcomes

GPP - The practitioner should endeavour to build a supportive and collaborative relationship with an adult with depression and their family/whānau

GPP - A practitioner managing an adult with severe depression in primary care needs to have easy access to consultation with a psychiatrist

GPP - First-line treatment for an adult with melancholic depression is a tricyclic antidepressant

GPP - If an adult on antidepressant medication has had no or minimal response after 3–4 weeks, or if side effects are unacceptable, review the treatment plan and consider changing to a different antidepressant, or changing to or adding a psychological therapy

GPP - If an adult with mild depression does not respond to supportive treatment (psychosocial support and self-management strategies) within 2–4 weeks (i.e., ≥50% reduction in symptoms) the patient and practitioner should review the treatment plan and consider intensifying, changing or augmenting measures taken to date

GPP - The primary care team should include members skilled in conducting brief psychological interventions for depression

GPP - Psychological therapies offered should use a recognised therapeutic approach which targets depression and related problems and which focuses on resilience and behavioural support

Special Issues: Women with Mental Disorders in the Antenatal and Postnatal Period

Women in the Antenatal and Postnatal Period

C - As part of routine antenatal care, the practitioner should enquire whether a woman has any history of mental disorder or any family history of mental illness in the antenatal or postnatal period

C - At a pregnant woman's first contact with primary care, her 'booking' visit and 6-week postnatal check, the practitioner should consider the use of the verbal 2–3 question screening tool for depression as part of routine assessment (see Table 2 above)

C - A woman with depression in the antenatal or postnatal period requires full discussion of the risks and benefits of treatment options and the risks of untreated depression. The uncertain state of the evidence should be acknowledged

C - There should be close collaboration and sharing of information between the midwife, general practitioner and other practitioners involved in the care of a woman with antenatal or postnatal depression. All relevant information should be available to the Lead Maternity Carer

C - Nonpharmacological interventions such as enhanced social support and/or a psychological intervention should be considered before prescribing medication for antenatal or postnatal depression, especially for a woman with mild symptoms or in very early pregnancy

C - If a woman's response to a verbal 2–3 question screening tool arouses concern about a possible mental disorder (or if other issues do so) she should normally be referred promptly for further clinical assessment by her general practitioner/practice nurse team. This should include a check for suicidal ideation or intent

C - If a possible mental disorder or a history of significant mental disorder is identified in a woman in the antenatal or postnatal period, her general practitioner/practice nurse team should be made aware, even if no referral is made (e.g., referral is declined), provided the woman consents

C - A brief psychological intervention (e.g., 6–8 sessions of non-directive counselling, interpersonal psychotherapy [IPT] or cognitive behavioural therapy [CBT]) should be considered as a first-line intervention in the management of a woman with mild to moderate depression in the antenatal or postnatal period

C - For a woman with depression in the antenatal or postnatal period who does not respond to initial treatment, a structured psychological therapy (e.g.,  CBT or IPT) could be considered, in consultation with maternal mental health services

C - An antidepressant may be considered as first-line treatment for a woman with moderate to severe depression in the antenatal or postnatal period, after thorough discussion of the likely benefits and possible risks of treatment

C - A woman with severe depression in the antenatal or postnatal period should be managed in consultation with maternal mental health services or other appropriate psychiatric services

C - If a woman who is pregnant or planning pregnancy is being treated with an antidepressant, her treatment preference, previous history and risk should be reviewed. If appropriate, attempts should be made to withdraw the antidepressant and substitute an alternative treatment and/or ensure that the antidepressant with the lowest risk profile is used

GPP - At a pregnant woman's first contact with primary care, at her 'booking' visit and 6-week postnatal check, the practitioner should consider the use of verbal 2–3 question screening tools for anxiety and substance abuse as part of routine assessment

GPP - A practitioner should regularly review his/her practice in relation to antidepressant prescribing during the antenatal or postnatal period and consider seeking specialist advice when initiating antidepressant treatment in a woman who is pregnant or breastfeeding

GPP - A practitioner should support breastfeeding in a woman with depression in the postnatal period who opts to take antidepressants, provided she is well-informed about known risks and benefits

GPP - A woman with depression in the postnatal period should be encouraged to attend a mother and baby support group

Special Issues: Older Adults/Koroua/Kuia

Older Adults

C - Targeted screening for common mental disorders is indicated for older adults in groups with high prevalence rates including:

• Older adults in residential care
• Older adults with a history of mental disorder or suicide attempt
• Older adults with multiple symptoms
• Older adults with a recent significant loss

C - An older adult presenting with possible cognitive impairment should be assessed for both dementia and depression

C - Where there is a rapid change in cognitive status in an older adult, medical assessment should exclude delirium

C - An older adult with depression should be offered the same range of psychological therapies as other adults: chronological age should not be a bar to specific therapies

C - SSRIs are suitable as a firstline antidepressant for an older adult: for a patient also taking other medications, choose one with a low risk of drug interactions

C - An older adult prescribed antidepressants should be carefully monitored for adverse effects

C - Where antidepressants are the treatment of choice, treatment for an older adult with depression and dementia should be as for other older adults with depression

GPP - Among older adults living in residential care, older adults with other risk factors or where there is clinical concern, routine psychosocial assessment should include questions that screen for depression, anxiety and substance abuse. This assessment should be conducted annually

GPP - Brief tools are optional aids for use by the primary care practitioner as an adjunct to clinical assessment. Examples of brief tools for detecting depression among older adults include:

• The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)
• The Patient Health Questionnaire for Depression (PHQ-9)

GPP - Clinical assessment of an older adult for dementia and depression should include the use of tools to assess cognitive function, such as the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and/or clock drawing test, in addition to a tool to assess for depression (such as the GDS or the PHQ-9)

GPP - Assessment of an older adult with depressive symptoms should include a physical examination, complete blood count and thyroid function tests. The practitioner should also consider checking creatinine and B12 and folate levels

GPP - An older adult with depression should be offered advice on simple behavioural measures to increase social, physical and/or intellectual activity

GPP - In an older adult starting treatment with a SSRI consider checking serum sodium after 1 week and after each dose adjustment, especially if the patient is at risk of hyponatraemia (e.g., frail, on diuretics, has renal impairment)

GPP - In a frail older adult prescribed antidepressants, treatment should be initiated at a low dose and increased slowly to optimisation or until a response is achieved

Definitions:

Grades of Recommendations

Grades indicate the strength of the supporting evidence rather than the importance of the evidence.

A - The recommendation is supported by good evidence (based on a number of studies that are valid, consistent, applicable and clinically relevant).

B - The recommendation is supported by fair evidence (based on studies that are valid, but there are some concerns about the volume, consistency, applicability and clinical relevance of the evidence that may cause some uncertainty but are not likely to be overturned by other evidence).

C - The recommendation is supported by international expert opinion.

Good Practice Points (GPP) - Where no evidence is available, best practice recommendations are made based on the experience of the Guideline Development Team, or feedback from consultation within New Zealand.

The original guideline document contains clinical algorithms for:

• The management of depression in young people in primary care
• The management of depression in adults in primary care
• The management of severe depression in adults in primary care
• The management of moderate depression in adults in primary care
• The management of mild depression in adults in primary care

The type of supporting evidence is identified and graded for each recommendation (see "Major Recommendations").

• New Zealand Guidelines Group. Identification of common mental disorders and management of depression in primary care. Wellington (NZ): New Zealand Guidelines Group; 2008 Jul. 188 p. [580 references]

Not applicable: The guideline was not adapted from another source.

2008 Jul

New Zealand Guidelines Group - Private Nonprofit Organization

New Zealand Guidelines Group

This guideline was funded by the Ministry of Health and its development was independently managed by the New Zealand Guidelines Group. Appraisal of the evidence, formulation and reporting of recommendations are independent of the Ministry of Health.

Guideline Development Team

Guideline Development Team Members: Professor Tony Dowell (Chair), General Practitioner, Island Bay, Wellington, Professor of Primary Health Care and General Practice, University of Otago, Wellington; Tim Antric (from August 2007), Project Manager – National Depression Campaign, Wellington, Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand, Auckland; Professor Bruce Arroll; Professor and Head of Department, Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, University of Auckland, Auckland; Dr Clive Bensemann, Psychiatrist, Mental Health Services for Older Adults, Waitemata; Dr Sunny Collings; Consultant Psychiatrist, Capital & Coast District Health Board, Wellington, Senior Lecturer in Social Psychiatry and Population Mental Health, University of Otago, Wellington; Dr John Cosgriff, General Practitioner, South Auckland, GP Liaison Mental Health Services, Counties Manukau District Health Board, South, Auckland; Joanna Davison, Nurse Educator, Bachelor of Nursing Programme, Whitireia Community Polytechnic, Porirua; Professor Pete Ellis, Head of Department, Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, Wellington; Lita Foliaki, Pacific Perspective, Pacific Health Manager, Waitemata District Health Board, Auckland; Dr Allen Fraser, Consultant Psychiatrist, Auckland Mind Psychiatric Consultants, Senior Lecturer (Hon) Department of Psychiatry, University of Auckland, Auckland, Chief Medical Officer, Waitemata District Health Board, North Shore City, Chairman, New Zealand National Committee, RANZCP; Karin Keith, Consumer Perspective, Manager, Wellington Mental Health Consumers Union Inc, Wellington; Associate Professor Ngaire Kerse, Senior Lecturer, Division of General Practice and Primary Health Care, University of Auckland, Auckland; Dr Sally Merry, Senior Lecturer in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, The Werry Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health, Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Auckland, Auckland; Aroha Noema, Māori Perspective, Project Leader, Te Rau Matatini, Palmerston North; Janet Peters, Registered Psychologist, Tauranga; Carol Seymour, Nurse Leader Mental Health Services and Ambulatory Services Auckland District Health Board, Auckland; Claudine Tule, Māori Perspective Project Manager Māori Health, Funding Division, MidCentral District Health Board, Palmerston North; Dr Peter Watson, Paediatrician and Youth Health Specialist, Whirinaki, Counties Manukau District Health Board Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, South Auckland; Rebecca Webster, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, South C ommunity Mental Health Team, Wellington

Professor Bruce Arroll is on the primary care committee of the Future Forum, funded by Astra Zeneca UK and has received financial support to attend the annual conference in Europe for the past four years. Bruce received financial support from the PHARMAC committee to run three CME (continuing medical education) sessions.

Dr Sunny Collings has received research funding from the Health Research Council and the Ministry of Health.

Dr John Cosgriff has received financial support from Jannsen-Cilag for the Metabolic Symposium Atypical Antipsychotics.

Professor Pete Ellis has received financial support from Eli Lilly for funding a PhD student for investigator initiated research, ending June 2006. Pete Ellis has a beneficial interest with shares in CSL Limited, GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer and Roche.

Dr Allen Fraser has received financial support from Sanofi Synthelabo to attend the annual bipolar disorder meeting, 2001–2006, and the International Society for Bipolar Disorders Pittsburgh 2003.

Dr Mark Huthwaite has received financial support from Eli Lilly, Lundbeck, Jansen Cilag, Astra-Zeneca and Pfizer to conduct clinical drug trials and to attend and present at conferences and meetings.

College of Nurses Aotearoa NZ - Academic Institution
Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand - Medical Specialty Society
New Zealand Association of Counsellors - Professional Association
New Zealand College of Clinical Psychologists - Professional Association
New Zealand College of Mental Health Nurses, Inc. - Professional Association
Paediatric Society of New Zealand - Medical Specialty Society
Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists - Professional Association
Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners - Medical Specialty Society

This is the current release of the guideline.

This NGC summary was completed by ECRI on December 10, 2008. The information was verified by the guideline developer on January 4, 2009.

The copyright owner of this publication is the Ministry of Health, which is part of the New Zealand Crown. Content may be reproduced in any number of copies and in any format or medium provided that it is not changed, sold, used to promote or endorse any product or service, used in any inappropriate or misleading context, and a copyright acknowledgement to the New Zealand Ministry of Health is included.