Moderators of treatment effect of Prompt Mental Health Care compared to treatment as usual: Results from a randomized controlled trial

Background: In this exploratory study, we investigated a comprehensive set of potential moderators of response to the primary care service Prompt Mental Health Care (PMHC). Methods: Data from an RCT of PMHC (n = 463) versus treatment as usual (TAU, n = 215) were used. At baseline mean age was 34.8, 66.7% were women, and 91% scored above caseness for depression (PHQ-9) and 87% for anxiety (GAD-7). Outcomes: change in symptoms of depression and anxiety and change in remission status from baseline to six-and 12-months follow-up. Potential moderators: sociodemographic, lifestyle, social, and cognitive variables, variables related to (mental) health problem and care. Each moderator was examined in generalized linear mixed models with robust maximum likelihood estimation. Results: Effect modification was only identified for anxiolytic medication for change in symptoms of depression and anxiety; clients using anxiolytic medication showed less effect of PMHC relative to TAU (all p < 0.001), although this result should be interpreted with caution due to the low number of anxiolytic users in the sample. For remission status, none of the included variables moderated the effect of treatment. Conclusion: As a treatment for depression and/or anxiety, PMHC mostly seems to work equally well as compared to TAU across a comprehensive set of potential moderators.

Automated summary

In this study, it was found that the primary care service Prompt Mental Health Care (PMHC) is as effective as treatment as usual (TAU) for depression and anxiety, and no significant moderators of treatment effect were identified.