Effect of a Layperson-Delivered Telephone Program for People With Depressive Symptoms.

OBJECTIVE

This study investigated whether a layperson-delivered telephone program focusing on empathy could improve depressive symptoms among adults.

METHODS

Data for a subset of participants from a randomized controlled trial (July 6-September 24, 2020) were analyzed to assess the impact of a telephone program on mental health. Participants in this post hoc analysis had baseline depressive symptoms and were assessed for depression, anxiety, loneliness, and isolation.

RESULTS

Of the 240 people in the original sample, 58 had depressive symptoms (i.e., baseline scores of ≥10 on the eight-item Patient Health Questionnaire [PHQ-8]); 56 of the 58 were reassessed 4 weeks later. Participants in the intervention arm had greater improvements in PHQ-8 scores (baseline mean±SD=13.0±2.6, postintervention mean=9.2±3.0; mean difference=3.8, 95% CI=2.9-4.7) than participants in the control arm (mean difference=1.3, 95% CI=0.1-2.5) (p=0.013).

CONCLUSIONS

This telephone intervention, delivered by a lay workforce, holds promise for reducing the burden on the clinical care system.