DEP004 - New depression review within 8 weeks (Retired v50 2025/26)
This indicator was retired in the contract year 2025/26 but remains in the business rules
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.
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:
- are at least 18 years old
- have had a new diagnosis of depression:
- in the contract year
or - 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?
- Patients for whom depression quality care was unsuitable in the contract year
- Patients who chose not to receive depression quality care in the contract year
- Patients who have received two invites for review (at least 7 days apart)
- Patients who were diagnosed with depression in the last 3 months of the contract year
- Patients who were newly registered with the practice in the last 3 months of the contract year
If a patient achieves the
indicator at any point during the year, any exclusions that have also been
added are ignoredWhat 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.
Suggested action: delete the new depression code and add the previous code to the relevant consultationsSNOMED codes used in this indicator
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 |
| 413973005 | Depression interim review |
| 413974004 | Depression medication review |
| 870191006 | Follow 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 |
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