A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial of Two Task-shifting Depression Care Models on Depression Alleviation and Antidepressant Response Among HIV Clients in Uganda

Background: depression is common among people living with HIV, but rarely diagnosed and treated in sub-Saharan Africa, in part due to the paucity of mental health professionals. Task-shifting approaches have been used to address this barrier. We compared the effects of two task-shifting models of depression care on depression alleviation and antidepressant response.

Methods: we conducted a cluster randomized controlled trial of two task-shifting models to facilitating depression care delivered by trained medical providers, one that utilized a structured protocol (protocolized) and one that relied on the judgment of trained providers (clinical acumen), in 10 HIV clinics in Uganda. A sample of 1252 clients (640 at protocolized clinics, 612 at clinical acumen clinics) who had screened positive for potential depression on the 2-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2) were enrolled and followed for 12 months. Interviewer-administered 9-item PHQ (PHQ-9) data from the research surveys, and provider administrations to clients treated with antidepressant therapy, were examined. Linear probability regression analyses were conducted using a wild cluster bootstrap to control for clustering.

Results: among the whole sample (regardless of treatment status), rates of depression alleviation (PHQ-9<5) at month 12 were equivalent in the protocolized (75%) and clinical acumen (77%) arms, in an intention-to-treat analysis. Similarly, among the 415 participants who received antidepressant care, rates of treatment response (PHQ-9<5) at the last provider administered PHQ-9 (average of 8 months into treatment) were equivalent between the protocolized (65%) and clinical acumen (69%) arms; rate of improvement over the course of treatment was also equivalent.

Conclusions: nurses can provide quality depression care to HIV clients, regardless of whether treatment is guided by a structured protocol or clinical acumen, in the context of appropriate training and ongoing supervision support.