The effect of adherence to practice guidelines on depression outcomes

Does adhering to depression practice guidelines improve depression outcomes? This observational study from 45 primary care practices found relatively poor adherence: Clinicians consistently followed only one third of the guideline recommendations for depression. Most clinicians initially recognized depression and started appropriate treatment, but they frequently did not address suicide risk, assess alcohol use, adjust treatment appropriately, or follow through on long-term treatment plans. Better adherence to recommendations was associated with a lower probability of persistent depressive symptom