 |
|
Attitudes, Knowledge, and Behavior of Family Physicians Regarding Depression in Late Life
Joseph J. Gallo, MD, MPH;
Stephen D. Ryan, MD, MPH;
Daniel E. Ford, MD, MPH
Arch Fam Med. 1999;8:249-256.
Objectives To assess self-reported knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of practicing community family physicians regarding identification and management of depression in late life.
Design We sent a 3-page "fax-back" survey to 768 active physician members of the Maryland Academy of Family Physicians, Baltimore.
Measurements We asked physicians to rate how confident they felt in evaluating several common medical conditions of late life, including depression. The questionnaire included items related to knowledge and treatment practices for depression in older adults.
Results Two hundred fifteen usable surveys were returned. In general, physicians took responsibility for diagnosing and treating depression. Few physicians reported that they routinely referred the older patient to a psychiatrist to treat depression, and only half thought that consultation was helpful. Physicians responding to the survey were generally aware of alternative presentations of depression in elderly persons, and were well informed about the duration of treatment with medications for depression. Most were using selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors as first-line agents to treat depression. Physicians thought that medications for depression were as effective for older patients as for younger patients, but were less optimistic about the effectiveness of psychotherapy. The barriers to identifying and treating depression in older patients most often mentioned by physicians were related to the atypical presentation of depression in older adults. More than half of the physicians rated themselves as "very confident" in evaluating depression. There were few differences in the responses of physicians with and those without a Certificate of Added Qualifications in geriatrics.
Conclusions Depression in late life remains a difficult clinical challenge for primary care physicians. These findings are particularly relevant in the face of recent efforts to increase collaboration between primary care physicians and mental health professionals.
From the Department of Mental Hygiene (Dr Gallo), and the Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Dr Gallo) and Medicine (Drs Gallo and Ford), The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Md; and the Department of Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY (Dr Ryan).
RELATED ARTICLE
The Archives of Family Medicine Continuing Medical Education Program
Arch Fam Med. 1999;8(3):207-209.
FULL TEXT
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES
|
Disease Management for Depression and At-Risk Drinking Via Telephone in an Older Population of Veterans
Oslin et al.
Psychosom. Med. 2003;65:931-937.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance Consensus Statement on the Unmet Needs in Diagnosis and Treatment of Mood Disorders in Late Life
Charney et al.
Arch Gen Psychiatry 2003;60:664-672.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
Unrecognized Medical Disorders in Older Psychiatric Inpatients in a Senior Behavioral Health Unit in a University Hospital
Woo et al.
J Geriatr Psychiatry Neurol 2003;16:121-125.
ABSTRACT
Older Adults' Acceptance of Psychological and Pharmacological Treatments for Depression
Landreville et al.
Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Science 2001;56:P285-291.
ABSTRACT
| FULL TEXT
TCAs vs SSRIs: Same Bang for Whose Buck?
Gallo
Arch Fam Med 1999;8:326-327.
FULL TEXT
|
