Symptom perception by nonpsychiatric physicians in evaluating for depression.
A questionnaire was constructed and used to assess the perception of symptoms of a depressive disorder by nonpsychiatric physicians in patient evaluations. Results showed that respondents consistently perceived depression as resulting from psychological rather than biological factors. It is suggested that such perception on the part of physicians may hinder consolidation of a patient's symptom complex with the degree of certainty necessary for a diagnostic consideration of depressive disorder.
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D005194:Family Practice; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine; D010820:Physicians; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires