Kathleen Ell, the Ernest P. Larson Professor of Health, Ethnicity and Poverty at the USC School of Social Work, has received a $250,000 grant from the California Health Care Foundation to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of a program designed to improve depression care among low-income ethnic minority patients with congestive heart failure.

The Multifaceted Depression and Cardiovascular Program (MDCP), which will be conducted in cooperation with the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services Clinical Resource Management-Disease Management Program, aims to reduce disparities among the lower socioeconomic minority patients receiving care for depression. In addition, the project intends to improve adherence to medical and self-management regimens, quality of life and functional status of patients with congestive heart failure.

"It is well-established that rates of major depression among patients with congestive heart failure are high, ranging from 10 percent to 25 percent overall and up to 40 percent among those with the most advanced congestive heart failure diagnoses. Depression frequently and negatively affects clinical outcomes, the ability to self-manage, quality of life and cost of care," Ell said. "Moreover, both the identification and treatment of depression are often woefully inadequate."

Over two years, the MDCP will provide an evidence-based model of depression care to 100 patients with congestive heart failure who meet diagnostic criteria for major depressive disorder and conduct follow-up evaluations of patients' depression and cardiac outcomes, as well as the patients' satisfaction with the care received.

Ell and her team also plan to evaluate the direct cost of MDCP and the cost of health services used by congestive heart failure patients over the year following initiation of depression treatment.