Collaborative care improves depression outcomes in both the short and medium term, a UK primary care study has found. Fifty one practices were randomised to either collaborative care or usual care. Potential participants were identified by screening GP records for recent depression Read codes. They were enrolled if they met the ICD-10 criteria for depression when interviewed by a research worker. In total, 276 patients were recruited from the collaborative care practices and 305 from the usual care practices. Overall 86% of participants had moderate or severe depression. The intervention was delivered by care managers in liaison with GPs under the supervision of mental health specialists.