Telephone interpersonal counseling treatment for frequent attenders to primary care

Frequent doctor visits are often driven by depression, anxiety, and chronic health issues — yet more medical care alone rarely helps. This study tested a telephone-based counseling program for high-frequency primary care patients, finding that six phone sessions over 12 weeks reduced depression, anxiety, and physical symptoms. Results also showed a promising reduction in healthcare utilization, suggesting that phone-based counseling outreach may be an effective and accessible treatment approach for this underserved population.