Management of depression in elderly general practice patients.
OBJECTIVE
To describe general practitioners' (GP) management (i.e., recognition and treatment) of depression in elderly patients.


METHODS
Two separate studies were performed: (a) to study recognition of depression, a postal survey was sent to GPs; (b) to evaluate the consistency of treatment, patients considered depressed by GPs were described.


METHODS
general practices in the West of The Netherlands.


METHODS
65 GPs, and 44 patients of 7 GPs.


METHODS
(a) degree of recognition of depression as described in major depression case-vignettes (b) consistency of treatment.


RESULTS
(a) On average 65% of the GPs recognized every depressive symptom in case-vignette one, while 52% of GPs recognized each symptom in case two. Most (39) doctors used a time criterion of less than 5 weeks for depressive disorder. (b) Depressed patients with at least three depressive symptoms all received treatment. Chronically depressed patients appeared to be treated somewhat inadequately.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest some inadequate knowledge of criteria for major depression and some inconsistency in treatment. The management of depression in elderly GP patients appears to need improvement.
van Marwijk
H
H
Department of General Practice, Leiden University, The Netherlands.
de Bock
G H
GH
de Jong
J M
JM
Kaptein
A A
AA
Mulder
J D
JD
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D011613:Psychotherapy
D000928:Antidepressive Agents