Impact of the QOF and the NICE guideline in the diagnosis andmanagement of depression: a qualitative study

摘要

BackgroundThe National Institute for Health and clinical Excellence (NICE) depression guideline (2004) and the updated Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) ( 2006) in general practice have introduced the concepts of screening severity assessment, for example using the Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ-9), and ‘stepped care’ for depression.