Background Information

Major Depressive Disorder has been identified as the highest volume diagnosis in our population, from multiple perspectives, which include:

  • Number of unique patients accessing inpatient or Outpatient behavioral health services,
  • Inpatient and outpatient utilization and cost

 

The national statistics on the number of patients with a depressive disorder are staggering. Major Depressive Disorder is the most frequently diagnosed behavioral health condition for adults; with a lifetime prevalence rate as high as 18% in the general population. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), approximately 18.8 million adults in the U.S. (or nearly 9.5% of the adult population) have Major Depression or another depressive disorder in any given year.

 

Objectives

The Prevention Program for Major Depressive Disorder is a combination of a secondary and tertiary preventive health program designed to:

  • Provide all members with current information about Depression, aimed at early detection and treatment (Secondary prevention)
  • Provide targeted interventions for patients diagnosed with major depression, aimed at promoting treatment compliance, and improved understanding of their illness; thereby improving outcomes and reducing the risk of relapse (Tertiary Prevention)

 

Targeted Population

The Depression Prevention Program targets three overlapping populations:

  • All covered enrollees
  • Newly diagnosed patients with Major Depressive Disorder
  • Patients hospitalized for Major Depressive Disorder

 

Program Design

The program is designed to provide appropriate educational information to all enrollees through the Prevention Program website, along with targeted mailing of pertinent educational material aimed at members who have been newly diagnosed with Major Depression or were recently hospitalized with Major Depression. In addition the program includes interventions aimed at network clinicians and primary care physicians.

 

Program Access

Enrollees access the Prevention program website via a link from their own health plan enrollee portal or directly from www.liveandworkwell.com

Health plan physicians can access the program via a link from their health plans' provider portal and where applicable, employer group primary physicians may access the website from the employer website

 

Program Components

  • Online depression self-appraisal
  • Online educational articles
  • Information about community resources
  • Information about support groups
  • Mailings of educational materials to members who are newly diagnosed or have been hospitalized with Major Depression.
  • Information for network clinicians. Network clinicians will be able to review the following:
    • A summary of the Prevention Program
    • A printable self-appraisal form that may be given to the member
    • Educational materials, which they will also be able to print for their patients. These materials include articles, resources, tips and information about how to locate a support group.
    • Links to clinical best practice guidelines developed by nationally recognized organizations that assist providers in clinical decision-making
    • Information regarding the Depression Management Program
    • Information for Primary Care Physicians. Through the link to the prevention website, the health plans' network of physicians and, where applicable, employer group primary physicians will be able to review the following:
    • A summary of the Prevention Program
    • A printable self-appraisal form that may be given to the member
    • Educational materials, which they will also be able to print for their patients. These materials include articles, resources, tips and information about how to locate a support group.
    • Articles and resources tailored to Primary care physicians.
    • Links to clinical best practice guidelines developed by nationally recognized organizations that assist providers in clinical decision-making
    • Information regarding the Depression Management Program