Having a care plan
Does it work?
Probably. If you're depressed, it's important to get the right treatment. Having a written care plan can mean you get treatment when you need it. Support to help you see treatment through can help you get better faster. It can also help you stay well for longer once you are better.
What is it?
A care plan outlines all of the things that should happen in order for you to get the best care possible. It's usually written by the team of health professionals treating you, including doctors, nurses, social workers and psychologists. Then they all work together to follow the plan. But since every patient is different, they make changes to the plan if they need to.
By following a set plan, it's less likely that important steps in your care will be left out. Also, by having a team of people looking after you, you are more likely to get all of the care you need.
Lots of different things can go into a care plan. Here are a few examples.[1]
- You might have regular check-ups by your doctor or nurse. These could be face-to-face or over the phone, or you might fill in a questionnaire about your symptoms.
- You might have a team of people looking after you, instead of just your doctor. The team could include your doctor, your psychiatrist, a psychologist and a social worker.
- You might have your own case manager. This person checks on you regularly during your treatment and lets your doctor know how you're doing. He or she also makes sure that you get any support you need from other professionals such as a psychiatric nurse or a social worker. Some case managers can teach you more about depression or even help treat you.
- You might learn more about depression in group lessons.
- Your doctor and nurse might also learn more about depression by going to classes or doing homework.
- A pharmacist might give regular feedback to your doctors about the treatments they use for depression.
How can it help?
Studies have shown that care plans help people with depression get the best from their treatment. People who have a care plan:[2]
- Have fewer symptoms
- Get better faster
- Stay better for longer.
In one study, three-quarters of the people who had a case manager got better and stayed better for up to two years.[3]
In another study, a care plan that included group classes and regular check-ups helped 7 in 10 people to get better. Only 3 in 10 people got better without a care plan.[4]
Why should it work?
Having a care plan means you're more likely to get the right treatment at the right time, and less likely to stop your treatment early. This means you should get better faster and stay well for longer.
- Having someone check on you probably makes it easier to spot when your treatment isn't working properly and your depression is getting worse. Your doctor or health care team can then look for other ways to help you, such as by changing the dose or type of your antidepressant.
- Being looked after by a team of people instead of just one person means much more knowledge and experience is used to help you get better.
Can it be harmful?
It's unlikely that having a care plan could do any harm. But these plans can be expensive and difficult to organise, so they might not be available where you live.
References
- Gilbody S, Whitty P, Grimshaw J, et al. Educational and organizational interventions to improve the management of depression in primary care: a systematic review. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2003; 289: 3145-3151.
- Bijl D, van Marwijk HW, de Haan M, et al. Effectiveness of disease management programmes for recognition, diagnosis and treatment of depression in primary care. European Journal of General Practice. 2004; 10: 6-12.
- Rost K, Nutting P, Smith JL, et al. Managing depression as a chronic disease: A randomised trial of ongoing treatment in primary care. BMJ. 2002; 325: 934-937.
- Araya R, Rojas G, Fritsch R, et al. Treating depression in primary care in low-income women in Santiago, Chile: A randomised controlled trial. The Lancet. 2003; 361: 995-1000.
Glossary
- psychiatrist
- A psychiatrist is a doctor who specialises in psychiatry. Psychiatry is the branch of medicine that covers mental, emotional or behavioural problems.
- psychologist
- A psychologist is trained to study the human mind and human behaviour. A clinical psychologist provides mental health care in hospitals, clinics, schools or to private patients.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited ("BMJ Group") 2007. All rights reserved
This information does not replace medical advice. If you are concerned you might have a medical problem please ask your Boots pharmacy team in your local Boots store, or see your doctor.
