At follow-up, 110 depressed patients had died. Depressed, older adults with diabetes who were in practices randomized to depression care management were less likely to have died at the end of the 5-year follow-up than were depressed, older adults with diabetes who received usual care. The authors note that they believe these findings support the integration of depression evaluation and treatment with diabetes management in primary care.

Additional study authors include Knashawn H. Morales, ScD, Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine; Edward P. Post, MD, PhD, VA Health Services Research and Development & National Serious Mental Illness Treatment Research and Evaluation Center, Ann Arbor, MI, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan; and Martha L. Bruce, PhD, MPH, Department of Psychiatry, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, White Plains, NY.

This study was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health.

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