Competencies for the psychotherapeutic management of depression in institutional PHC settings: learning from the perspective of the protagonists

Abstract

Depression is one of the mental health disorders that hasattracted most attention to improve its management in primary health care settings, due to institutional barriers and lack of training for its treatment. Aim: this study was to present a model of core psychotherapeutic competencies for the management of depression in institutional and PHC settings based on the perspective of patients, therapists, and experts. Method: The study used consensual qualitative method (CQR). Results: The model proposes that one must have  abackground of knowledge that allows one to adapt the  techniqueto the characteristics and needs of the consultants, be active to intervene, be flexible in terms of theoretical approach and in terms of professionalperformance and  be engaged to the consultant. All these competencies, act as bridges to build and nurture a bond that results in a corrective and therapeutic experience for the patient with depression. Discussion: the proposed competencies are in line with empirically supported models (e.g. common factors model, adaptive indication), and it is discussed how these skills were inserted as inputs for the generation of a competency training for depressive disorders in PHC setting.