METHODS

Data sources:

Medline, PsycINFO, and the Cochrane library (1999 to June 2005); reference lists; and experts in the field.

Study selection and assessment:

English language studies that investigated treatment or psychosocial support for depression. Articles on case studies, evaluations of a particular measure or tool, purely psychopharmacological treatments, adult specialty care treatment, or long term treatment for children and adolescents were excluded. Before and after studies were included in the review but are not summarised in this abstract. Studies contributing indirect evidence (ie, on depression management in adults in primary care or on other childhood mental health conditions in primary care) were also included in the review; this abstract focuses on the direct evidence pertaining to the research question. 4 …