Controlled trial of problem-solving therapy and consultation-liaison for common mental disorders in general medical settings in Taiwan

ObjectiveCommon mental disorders (CMD) are prevalent high-impact illnesses seen in general medical settings worldwide. There has been no investigation on the efficacy of enhanced care in Chinese societies. The aim of this study was to compare the outcome of three interventions for treating CMD: usual care (UC), problem-solving therapy plus UC (PST-UC), and psychiatric consultation plus UC (PC-UC).MethodThe sample for this randomized controlled trial consisted of 254 patients with CMD being managed in general medical care settings. Clinical and functional assessments were done at baseline and at 16 weeks.ResultsTwo hundred six patients had complete data at 16 weeks (66 in the UC group, 63 in the PST-UC group, 77 in the PC-UC group). All patients had significant improvement on all scales over time, with no significant differences among the three treatment groups.ConclusionThis trial failed to demonstrate the efficacy of enhanced care with consultation-liaison by mental health professionals for patients with CMD in general medical settings in Taiwan. Improved outcomes may require more integrated interventions.