Intervention Summary
Prevention of Suicide in Primary Care Elderly: Collaborative Trial (PROSPECT)
Prevention of Suicide in Primary Care Elderly: Collaborative Trial (PROSPECT) aims to prevent suicide among older primary care patients by reducing suicidal ideation and depression. It also aims to reduce their risk of death. The intervention components are (1) recognition of depression and suicidal ideation by primary care physicians, (2) application of a treatment algorithm for geriatric depression in the primary care setting, and (3) treatment management by health specialists (e.g., nurses, social workers, psychologists). The treatment algorithm assists primary care physicians in making appropriate care choices during the acute, continuation, and maintenance phases of treatment. Health specialists collaborate with physicians to monitor patients and encourage patient adherence to recommended treatments. Patients are treated and monitored for 24 months. Implementation of the program relies on educating primary care physicians to recognize symptoms and apply a clinical algorithm based on depression treatment guidelines for older patients from the American Psychiatric Association, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and the Texas Department of Mental Health. The recommended first line of treatment is citalopram, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). If citalopram does not achieve the desired result, other medications may be added or substituted. Interpersonal psychotherapy may also be used in addition to or instead of pharmacological treatment.
The documents below were reviewed for Quality of Research. The research point of
contact can provide information regarding the studies reviewed and the availability
of additional materials, including those from more recent studies that may have been conducted. Alexopoulos, G. S., Reynolds, C. F., III, Bruce, M. L., Katz, I. R., Raue, P. J., Mulsant, B. H., et al. Reducing suicidal ideation and depression in older primary care patients: 24-month outcomes of the PROSPECT Study. American Journal of Psychiatry, 166(8), 882-890. Bao, Y., Alexopoulos, G. S., Casalino, L. P., Ten Have, T. R., Donohue, J. M., Post, E. P., et al. Collaborative depression care management and disparities in depression treatment and outcomes. Archives of General Psychiatry, 68(6), 627-636.
The following populations were identified in the studies reviewed for Quality of
Research.
External reviewers independently evaluate the Quality of Research for an intervention's
reported results using six criteria:
For more information about these criteria and the meaning of the ratings, see Quality of Research.
The reliability and validity of the measures have been adequately documented to be at acceptable levels. A clear algorithm and other materials were available to guide clinicians, and clinicians were supervised. The study used intent-to-treat analyses, which accounted for missing data and attrition. Major potential confounding variables were appropriately addressed; randomization procedures were rigorous, and there were no major baseline differences between the groups. Appropriate and thorough analyses were used with the longitudinal data. No systematic fidelity instrument was used, and there is no documentation describing how fidelity was established or maintained over the course of the study.
The documents below were reviewed for Quality of Research. The research point of
contact can provide information regarding the studies reviewed and the availability
of additional materials, including those from more recent studies that may have been conducted. Alexopoulos, G. S., Katz, I. R., Bruce, M. L., Heo, M., Ten Have, T., Raue, P., et al. Remission in depressed geriatric primary care patients: A report from the PROSPECT Study. American Journal of Psychiatry, 162(4), 718-724. Bruce, M. L., Ten Have, T. R., Reynolds, C. F. III, Katz, I., Schulberg, H. C., Mulsant, B. H., et al.. Reducing suicidal ideation and depressive symptoms in depressed older primary care patients: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of the American Medical Association, 291(9), 1081-1091. Alexopoulos, G. S., & the PROSPECT Group. Interventions for depressed elderly primary care patients. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 16, 553-559. Brown, G. K., Bruce, M. L., & Pearson, J. L. High-risk management guidelines for elderly suicidal patients in primary care settings. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 16, 593-601. Bruce, M. L., & Pearson, J. L. Designing an intervention to prevent suicide: PROSPECT (Prevention of Suicide in Primary Care Elderly: Collaborative Trial). Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, 1, 100-112. Coyne, J. C., Brown, G., Datto, C., Bruce, M. L., Schulberg, H. C., & Katz, I. The benefits of a broader perspective in case-finding for disease management of depression: Early lessons from the PROSPECT Study. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 16(6), 570-576. Gallo, J. J., Bogner, H. R., Morales, K. H., Post, E. P., Ten Have, T., & Bruce, M. L. Depression, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and two-year mortality among older, primary-care patients. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 13(9), 748-755. Mulsant, B. H., Alexopoulos, G. S., Reynolds, C. F. III, Katz, I. R., Abrams, R., Oslin, D., et al. Pharmacological treatment of depression in older primary care patients: The PROSPECT algorithm. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 16(6), 585-592. PROSPECT Study: Intervention practice treatment manual and the health specialist's role. Unpublished document. Raue, P. J., Alexopoulos, G. S., Bruce, M. L., Klimstra, S., Mulsant, B. H., Gallo, J. J., et al. The systematic assessment of depressed elderly primary care patients. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 16, 560-569. Reynolds, C. F. III, Degenholtz, H., Parker, L. S., Schulberg, H. C., Mulsant, B. H., Post, E., et al. Treatment as usual (TAU) control practices in the PROSPECT Study: Managing the interaction and tension between research design and ethics. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 16, 602-608. Schulberg, H. C., Bryce, C., Chism, K., Mulsant, B. H., Rollman, B., Bruce, M., et al. Managing late-life depression in primary care practice: A case study of the health specialist's role. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 16, 577-584. Schulberg, H. C., Post, E. P., Raue, P. J., Ten Have, T., Miller, M., & Bruce, M. L. Treating late-life depression with interpersonal psychotherapy in the primary care sector. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 22, 106-114.
The following populations were identified in the studies reviewed for Quality of
Research.
External reviewers independently evaluate the Quality of Research for an intervention's
reported results using six criteria:
For more information about these criteria and the meaning of the ratings, see Quality of Research.
The study design was rigorous. Researchers used outcome measures with well-established reliability and validity. Appropriate strategies were used to address attrition and missing data. Analyses were well powered, and the analytic approach was exceptional. There may be some limits to generalizability due to the provision of medication and other care without charge during the study. The study design may have limited fidelity; for example, 36% of patients identified as receiving the "interpersonal therapy only" condition also used antidepressive medication.
The materials below were reviewed for Readiness for Dissemination. The implementation
point of contact can provide information regarding implementation of the intervention
and the availability of additional, updated, or new materials. PROSPECT Study: Intervention practice treatment manual and the health specialist's role. Unpublished document. PROSPECT Study: Physician education [VHS]
External reviewers independently evaluate the intervention's Readiness for Dissemination
using three criteria: For more information about these criteria and the meaning of the ratings, see Readiness for Dissemination.
The video and treatment manual are well structured, comprehensive, and clearly linked. The manual provides a practical guide to implementation. The treatment manual also provides clear, step-by-step direction for each phase of treatment, offering comprehensive guidance to the practitioner. Measures and protocol for monitoring treatment and information on common problems and suggested solutions are provided to support quality assurance. Information in the treatment manual appendixes was not submitted for review. No information was submitted on available coaching or ongoing technical assistance for implementers. No information was submitted on using information derived from monitoring protocols to support quality assurance.
The cost information below was provided by the developer. Although this cost information
may have been updated by the developer since the time of review, it may not reflect
the current costs or availability of items (including newly developed or discontinued
items). The implementation point of contact can provide current information and
discuss implementation requirements. Descriptive Information
Areas of Interest
Mental health promotion
Mental health treatment
Outcomes
1: Depression
2: Suicidal ideation
3: Mortality rate
1: Depression
2: Suicidal ideation
Outcome Categories
Mental health
Suicide
Ages
55+ (Older adult)
Genders
Male
Female
Races/Ethnicities
White
Race/ethnicity unspecified
Settings
Outpatient
Geographic Locations
Urban
Suburban
Rural and/or frontier
Implementation History
PROSPECT has been implemented by its developer in 20 primary care practices in New York City and Westchester County, New York, and in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
NIH Funding/CER Studies
Partially/fully funded by National Institutes of Health: Yes
Evaluated in comparative effectiveness research studies: Yes
Adaptations
No population- or culture-specific adaptations of the intervention were identified by the developer.
Adverse Effects
No adverse effects, concerns, or unintended consequences were identified by the developer.
IOM Prevention Categories
Indicated
Documents Reviewed
Study 1
Gallo, J. J., Bogner, H. R., Morales, K. H., Post, E. P., Lin, J. Y., & Bruce, M. L. The effect of a primary care practice-based depression intervention on mortality in older adults: A randomized trial. Annals of Internal Medicine, 146(10), 689-698. Supplementary Materials
Bogner, H. R., Cary, M. S., Bruce, M. L., Reynolds, C. F., III, Mulsant, B., Ten Have, T., et al. The role of medical comorbidity in outcome of major depression in primary care: The PROSPECT Study. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 13(10), 861-868.
Bogner, H. R., Morales, K. H., Post, E. P., & Bruce, M. L. Diabetes, depression, and death: A randomized controlled trial of a depression treatment program for older adults based in primary care (PROSPECT). Diabetes Care, 30(12), 3005-3010.
Raue, P. J., Morales, K. H., Post, E. P., Bogner, H. R., Ten Have, T., & Bruce, M. L. The wish to die and 5-year mortality in elderly primary care patients. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 18(4), 341-350. Outcomes
Outcome 1: Depression
Description of Measures
Depression was assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), a 24-item clinician-administered measure. Higher total scores indicate greater depression severity. Patients participated in in-person interviews at 12 and 24 months and telephone interviews at 4, 8, and 18 months after entry into the study. Assessments were conducted by trained program staff who did not participate in the patients' treatment.
Key Findings
Participants in the study, patients ages 65 and older with major or minor depression, were screened in primary care practices and randomly assigned to receive either PROSPECT or usual care. Participants had major depression (as defined in the DSM-IV) or minor depression (defined as three or four depressive symptoms in the DSM-IV), an HDRS score of 10 or more, and a symptom duration of at least 1 month. Physicians in usual care practices received videotapes and printed material on geriatric depression and its treatment and were informed by letter of the patients' depression diagnosis and suicidal ideation, when it was present.
Findings on the severity of depression included the following:
Findings on the remission of depression (i.e., HDRS score of less than 7) included the following:
Studies Measuring Outcome
Study 1
Study Designs
Experimental
Quality of Research Rating
3.6
(0.0-4.0 scale)
Outcome 2: Suicidal ideation
Description of Measures
Suicidal ideation was assessed using the Scale for Suicide Ideation (SSI). The SSI is a 19-item clinician-administered scale that measures the presence and intensity of suicidal ideation. Patients participated in in-person interviews at 12 and 24 months and telephone interviews at 4, 8, and 18 months after entry into the study. Assessments were conducted by trained program staff who did not participate in the patients' treatment.
Key Findings
Participants in the study, patients ages 65 and older with major or minor depression, were screened in primary care practices and randomly assigned to receive either PROSPECT or usual care. Participants had major depression (as defined in the DSM-IV) or minor depression (defined as three or four depressive symptoms in the DSM-IV), an HDRS score of 10 or more, and a symptom duration of at least 1 month. Physicians in usual care practices received videotapes and printed material on geriatric depression and its treatment and were informed by letter of the patients' depression diagnosis and suicidal ideation, when it was present.
Compared with participants in the usual care group, those in the intervention group were less likely to report suicidal ideation at 4-month (p = .04) and 8-month assessment (p = .005). Effect sizes for these findings were small (odds ratio = 2.2) and medium (odds ratio = 3.1), respectively. No significant group differences were found at 12-, 18-, or 24-month assessment.
Among participants with major depression, those in the intervention group were less likely to report suicidal ideation at 4-month (p = .05), 8-month (p = .002), and 24-month assessment (p = .04) compared with those in the usual care group. Effect sizes for these findings were small (odds ratio = 2.5) and medium (odds ratio = 4.2 and 3.2), respectively. No significant group differences were found at 12- or 18-month assessment.
Studies Measuring Outcome
Study 1
Study Designs
Experimental
Quality of Research Rating
3.6
(0.0-4.0 scale)
Outcome 3: Mortality rate
Description of Measures
Mortality rate was assessed using the National Center for Health Statistics National Death Index (NDI) Plus. The sites implementing PROSPECT verified the vital status information obtained from the NDI by matching the identifying information for each individual and confirming status with physician reports of death.
Key Findings
Participants in the study, patients ages 65 and older with major or minor depression, were screened in primary care practices and randomly assigned to receive either PROSPECT or usual care. Participants had major depression (as defined in the DSM-IV) or minor depression (defined as three or four depressive symptoms in the DSM-IV), an HDRS score of 10 or more, and a symptom duration of at least 1 month. Physicians in usual care practices received videotapes and printed material on geriatric depression and its treatment and were informed by letter of the patients' depression diagnosis and suicidal ideation, when it was present. At 5-year follow-up (median of 52.8 months after entry into study), participants with major depression in the intervention group had a significantly lower mortality rate than their counterparts in the usual care group (p = .005). Among participants with minor depression or no depression, no significant group differences were found at 5-year follow-up.
Studies Measuring Outcome
Study 1
Study Designs
Experimental
Quality of Research Rating
3.5
(0.0-4.0 scale)
Study Populations
Study
Age
Gender
Race/Ethnicity
Study 1
55+ (Older adult)
71.6% Female
28.4% Male
67.6% White
32.4% Race/ethnicity unspecified
Quality of Research Ratings by Criteria (0.0-4.0 scale)
Outcome
Reliability
of Measures
Validity
of Measures
Fidelity
Missing
Data/Attrition
Confounding
Variables
Data
Analysis
Overall
Rating
1: Depression
4.0
4.0
2.0
4.0
3.5
4.0
3.6
2: Suicidal ideation
4.0
4.0
2.0
4.0
3.5
4.0
3.6
3: Mortality rate
3.5
4.0
2.5
3.5
3.5
4.0
3.5
Study Strengths
Study Weaknesses
Documents Reviewed
Study 1
Supplementary Materials
Outcomes
Outcome 1: Depression
Description of Measures
Depression was measured using the Structured Clinical Interview for Axis I DSM-IV Disorders (SCID-IV) and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), a 24-item clinician-administered measure.
Key Findings
In a randomized controlled trial comparing PROSPECT with treatment as usual, patients with major depression in PROSPECT experienced greater decreases in depression between baseline and 12 months (p < .001). PROSPECT patients also were more likely to experience remission and to have earlier remission. With remission defined as an HDRS score of less than 10, 40% of the PROSPECT patients with major depression had a cumulative probability of remission at 4 months, compared with 23% of patients receiving usual treatment. At 12 months, 51% of PROSPECT patients had experienced remission of depression, compared with 49% of patients receiving usual treatment.
Studies Measuring Outcome
Study 1
Study Designs
Experimental
Quality of Research Rating
3.7
(0.0-4.0 scale)
Outcome 2: Suicidal ideation
Description of Measures
This outcome was measured using the Scale for Suicidal Ideation (SSI). The scale was dichotomized to indicate current suicidal ideation versus no current suicidal ideation.
Key Findings
In a randomized controlled trial, unadjusted rates of suicidal ideation decreased 12.9% among patients receiving PROSPECT (from 29.4% to 16.5%), compared with a 3.0% decrease (from 20.1% to 17.1%) among patients receiving treatment as usual (p = .01).
Studies Measuring Outcome
Study 1
Study Designs
Experimental
Quality of Research Rating
3.7
(0.0-4.0 scale)
Study Populations
Study
Age
Gender
Race/Ethnicity
Study 1
55+ (Older adult)
71.6% Female
28.4% Male
67.6% White
32.4% Race/ethnicity unspecified
Quality of Research Ratings by Criteria (0.0-4.0 scale)
Outcome
Reliability
of Measures
Validity
of Measures
Fidelity
Missing
Data/Attrition
Confounding
Variables
Data
Analysis
Overall
Rating
1: Depression
4.0
4.0
3.0
3.5
3.5
4.0
3.7
2: Suicidal ideation
4.0
4.0
3.0
3.5
3.5
4.0
3.7
Study Strengths
Study Weaknesses
Materials Reviewed
Readiness for Dissemination Ratings by Criteria (0.0-4.0 scale)
Implementation
Materials
Training and Support
Resources
Quality Assurance
Procedures
Overall
Rating
3.5
2.8
3.3
3.2
Dissemination Strengths
Dissemination Weaknesses
Item Description
Cost
Required by Developer
Treatment manual
Free
Yes
Physician education video
Free
No
On-site training
Contact the developer
Yes
Technical assistance and consultation
Contact the developer
Yes
Quality assurance materials
Contact the developer
No