Training general practitioners to recognise and respond to psychological distress and suicidal ideation in young people.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effectiveness of a training program for general practitioners in recognising and responding to psychological distress and suicidal ideation in young people.


METHODS
The study, conducted in general practice surgeries in Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia in 1996 and 1997, used a pre-/posttest design to audit consecutive young patients presenting in the six weeks before and the six weeks after the GPs' participation in the training program.


METHODS
Consisted of 23 GPs who attended a youth suicide prevention workshop and 423 patients aged 15-24 years who presented to the GPs' surgeries (203 pre-workshop and 220 post-workshop).


METHODS
GPs attended a one-day training workshop designed to enhance their ability to recognise, assess and manage young patients at risk of suicide.


METHODS
Scores on three patient self-report inventories (General Health Questionnaire-12 [GHQ-12], Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale [CES-D] and Depressive Symptom Inventory--Suicidality Subscale [DSI-SS]); a GP-completed form for each patient summarising presenting complaint(s), psychological assessment and proposed management plan.


RESULTS
After training, GPs demonstrated increased recognition rates of psychologically distressed patients scoring above the cut-offs of the GHQ-12 (48% increase; odds ratio [OR], 1.748; 95% CI, 0.904-03.381) and CES-D (39.5% increase; OR, 2.067; 95% CI, 1.031-4.143); enquiry about suicidal ideation increased by 32.5% (OR, 1.483; 95% CI, 0.929-2.366); and identification of suicidal patients (determined by DSI-SS score) increased by 130% (OR, 3.949; 95% CI, 1.577-9.888). Training did not lead to any significant change in GPs' patient management strategies.


CONCLUSIONS
A one-day training course can significantly enhance GP detection rates of psychological distress and suicidal ideation in young patients, but higher recognition rates do not necessarily lead to changes in patient management.
Pfaff
J J
JJ
National General Practice Youth Suicide Prevention Project, Perth, WA.
Acres
J G
JG
McKelvey
R S
RS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003479:Curriculum; D004493:Education; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D013405:Suicide / Q000523:psychology; D013648:Tasmania; D014739:Victoria; D014904:Western Australia; D000092864:Suicide Prevention