Depressive and anxiety disorders are the most prevalent mental disorders in primary care systems — they occur at rates higher than common illnesses such as hypertension and diabetes. What are the best evidence-based treatments for these disorders in these settings?
In a recent systematic review, alumni Anao Zhang, professor Cynthia Franklin, and doctoral student Audrey Hai found that both Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Problem Solving Therapy (PST) were effective in primary care settings. They also found that the interventions were more effective when delivered outside primary care, and that individual treatment had greater effects than group treatment. Results were published in the Journal of Affective Disorders.