| OBJECTIVES: Several studies have demonstrated that problem solving therapy (PST) in primary care is an effective way of dealing with emotional disorders, and a promising addition to the primary care provided in the UK and the USA. However, none of these studies were performed in the Netherlands. The primary aim of the present study is therefore to investigate whether PST for emotional problems, provided by nurses in primary care, is effective. If this is successful, it can contribute to a further development of specific tasks for practice nurses in primary care. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial will be performed among people with emotional disorders who frequently visit their general practitioner (GP). In this clinical trial, two interventions will be compared: 1) usual care provided by the GP, and 2) PST provided by nurses. The PST is a brief and practical skill-building psychological treatment designed for use in the primary care setting. It is a patient-centred method, consists of a maximum of six sessions, and focuses on how to deal with current problems in a systematic way. 160 primary care patients will be included; 80 will receive PST provided by a nurse and 80 will receive usual care from a GP. Outcome variables include improvement in psychopathology, well-being, daily functioning, satisfaction with treatment, and health care utilization. |
