Implementation of a therapeutic identification program of depression in young people in health area of Santiago de Compostela

OBJECTIVE: Implement and evaluate a therapeutic identification program for depression in adolescents developed in the United Kingdom (TIDY), among adolescents aged 13-16 who attend Primary Care (PC) centers in the Santiago de Compostela area. MATERIAL AND METHODS: PC professionals (PCP) were recruited who voluntarily wanted to participate in the study, quasi-experimental, of before-after design. The changes in their knowledge and attitudes towards adolescent depression and the screening and identification rates of it in the 80 working days before and after a period of training were statistically compared. Specific details of the PC consultation were also studied. RESULTS: In spite of the low rate participation (23,19%), an improvement in knowledge and attitudes towards adolescent depression was observed, being only significant in one of the characteristics included in the diagnosis of depression (p <0.05). After the training, it went from not doing screening to applying it systematically. The identification fees fell from 3.39% to 0.86%. This identification was associated with being monitored for depression in the Child-Mental Health Unit (p =, 01), having a history of mental health problems (p = 0.03) and having a regular or bad subjective health status. (p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: The TIDY program is a feasible approach to improve the identification of adolescent depression in PC. An additional evaluation is required in a randomized trial to assess the professional's accuracy, clinical impact and cost benefit