Collaborative care may improve depression management in older adults.

This article focuses on the finding that collaborative, stepped care management intervention is more effective than usual care for depression in a wide range of people and several types of medical care organisations. These findings have important implications for clinical practice and challenges for the current policy. Several randomised trials have found improved patient outcomes in depression from various components of chronic disease management compared with usual care. This study emphasises the importance of seeking out and being involved in consultative and supervisory roles to more effectively serve a larger number of patients.