Assessment of the Effectiveness of Pharmacotherapy Follow-up in Patients Treated for Depression

BACKGROUND: Several studies have established the effectiveness of pharmaceutical care (PC) in patients with heart failure, diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. However, there are few studies using standardized methods, e.g., randomized controlled trials, to assess the effectiveness of pharmacotherapy follow-up (PF) in patients with depression. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effectiveness of PC via PF according to the Dáder Method in female patients diagnosed with depression. METHODS: Sixty-eight patients were selected and randomly allocated to groups, stratified by age, type of medication, severity of depression, and presence of recurrence and/or relapse. Patients in the intervention group (IG) received clinical pharmacy intervention at monthly visits over a 3-month follow-up period. The control group (CG) also received monthly visits from the pharmacist, but PF intervention was not performed. RESULTS: A comparison of the effects of usual treatment (CG) and PC (IG) on depressive symptoms showed a statistically significant difference between groups, with a median reduction in Beck Depression Inventory score (Δ) of 2.5 points in the CG and 13.5 points in the IG. Similarly, statistically significant results were observed for anxiety symptoms, with a median reduction in Beck Anxiety Inventory score (Δ) of 3.5 points in the CG and 13.0 points in the IG. The patients who underwent PF showed a high level of satisfaction with the service. CONCLUSIONS: The PF is well accepted and effective in treating depressed patients, as indicated by the reduction of the depressive and anxious symptoms.