Training general practitioners in the identification and management of adolescent depression within the consultation: a feasibility study.
BACKGROUND
Depressive disorders are common in adolescent general practice attenders.


METHODS
Adolescent attenders were screened/interviewed for depressive disorders, general practitioners (GPs) completed a checklist indicating recognition of psychopathology prior to and following GP training in the identification/management of adolescent depression.


RESULTS
One hundred and thirty consecutive adolescent attenders were screened before and 184 after training. Ten GPs completed the training. Psychiatric interviews with 38 adolescents with high depressive scores prior to and 44 following training identified 10 (26%) and 21 (48%), respectively, as clinically depressed. Sensitivity of GP identification improved from 2/10 (20%) to 9/21 (43%) without loss of specificity; predictive validity from 2/6 (33%) to 9/12 (75%). Adolescents interviewed appreciated the intervention.


CONCLUSIONS
Training GPs is feasible and may improve recognition of adolescent depression.
Gledhill
Julia
J
The Academic Unit of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, UK. j.gledhill@ic.ac.uk
Kramer
Tami
T
Iliffe
Steven
S
Garralda
M Elena
ME
D000293:Adolescent; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D005194:Family Practice; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011613:Psychotherapy; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity