DEP004 - New depression review within 8 weeks (Retired v50 2025/26)

DEP004 - New depression review within 8 weeks (Retired v50 2025/26)

Warning
This indicator was retired in the contract year 2025/26 but remains in the business rules                                                                                                                                                          
Warning
The codes referenced in this article are taken from the NHS Technology Reference Update Distribution (TRUD).  Not all of these may be present or selectable in all clinical systems.
Info
The information contained within this article is from version 50 of the Business Rules for Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF).                                                                                  

Indicator definition

Indicator ID

Description

DEP004

The percentage of patients aged 18 or over with a new diagnosis of depression in the preceding 1 April to 31 March, who have been reviewed not earlier than 10 days after and not later than 56 days after the date of diagnosis

What do the business rules mean?

What makes a patient eligible?

Patients are eligible for the DEP004 denominator if they:
  1. are at least 18 years old
  2. have had a new diagnosis of depression:
    1. in the contract year
      or
    2. in the last 3 months of the previous contract year (ie: since January) where they had not been reviewed

How to achieve the indicator

To meet the criteria for DEP004, eligible patients must have a depression review code added between 10 and 56 days after their latest episode of depression.

What will remove patients from eligibility?

  1. Patients for whom depression quality care was unsuitable in the contract year
  2. Patients who chose not to receive depression quality care in the contract year
  3. Patients who have received two invites for review (at least 7 days apart)
  4. Patients who were diagnosed with depression in the last 3 months of the contract year
  5. Patients who were newly registered with the practice in the last 3 months of the contract year
NotesIf a patient achieves the indicator at any point during the year, any exclusions that have also been added are ignored

What are the common pitfalls with this indicator?

There are a number of common pitfalls with this indicator.  These are described with suggested actions for each area:

Patients are coded with depression when they have previously been diagnosed

Often it is found that patients have been diagnosed with depression previously and a different depression code has been added during the contract year which has added them into the DEP004 indicator, when in fact they've had ongoing depression for many years.

IdeaSuggested action: delete the new depression code and add the previous code to the relevant consultations

SNOMED codes used in this indicator

Warning
The codes referenced in this article are taken from the NHS Technology Reference Update Distribution (TRUD).  Not all of these may be present or selectable in all clinical systems.

Depression review codes (DEPRVW_COD)

SNOMED code

SNOMED code description

413972000

Depression annual review

413973005Depression interim review
413974004Depression medication review
870191006Follow up for depression

Codes for depression quality indicator care unsuitable for patient (DEPRPCAPU_COD)

SNOMED code

SNOMED code description

716831000000103

Excepted from depression quality indicators - patient unsuitable

Codes indicating the patient has chosen not to receive depression quality indicator care (DEPRPCADEC_COD)

SNOMED code

SNOMED code description

715831000000109

Excepted from depression quality indicators - informed dissent

Invite for depression care review codes (DEPRINVITE_COD)

SNOMED code

SNOMED code description

711451000000102
Depression monitoring invitation
1083051000000106
Depression monitoring invitation email
1083071000000102
Depression monitoring invitation short message service text message
717211000000107
Depression monitoring first letter
716681000000100
Depression monitoring second letter
716961000000102
Depression monitoring third letter
716421000000103
Depression monitoring telephone invitation
717261000000109
Depression monitoring verbal invitation
1110911000000106
Quality and Outcomes Framework depression quality indicator-related care invitation
143391000000100
Quality and Outcomes Framework depression quality indicator-related care invitation using preferred method of communication
1109921000000106
Quality and Outcomes Framework quality indicator-related care invitation