title: Diagnosis and treatment of depression following acquired brain injury: a comparison of practice in the UK and the Netherlands.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe and compare current practice in diagnosis and treatment of depression following acquired brain injury in two countries (UK and the Netherlands) which have different sets of guidelines.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey of reported practice among rehabilitation physician members of the British and Dutch specialist societies.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 12-item postal questionnaire was sent to 496 rehabilitation physicians with two reminders: N=353 (71%) responded, 146 of whom did not manage people with acquired brain injury, leaving 207 questionnaires for analysis (Netherlands N=121, UK N=86). Descriptive summary statistics were compiled. Categorical and dichotomous data were compared between the groups using chi-squared tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sixty-seven (78%) of British respondents served a predominantly younger adult (65 years) population, compared with only 27 (22%) of the Dutch, who mainly treated patients of all ages. In line with their respective guidelines, more British respondents reported that they screened all acquired brain injury patients for depression (68/86 (79%) British versus 71/121 (59%) Dutch, P<0.01), and used formal measures (37/68 (54%) versus 14/69 (20%), P<0.001). They also took a more active role in treatment of depression: only 1 (1%) never used antidepressants, compared with 22 (18%) of Dutch respondents (P<0.001). On the other hand, where antidepressants were prescribed, the Dutch respondents were more likely than the British to follow-up their patients (93/98 (95%) versus 67/84 (80%), P<0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The survey demonstrates a broadly similar approach, but highlights some significant variance in practice between the two countries which may stem from differences in population and service provision as well as their respective guidelines.
authors: Rehabilitation Centre De Trappenberg Huizen, The Netherlands.
authors: Anne Margreet
authors: AM
authors: Knottnerus
authors: Tabitha
authors: T
authors: Turner-Stokes
authors: F B
authors: FB
authors: van de Weg
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Heijnen
authors: G J
authors: GJ
authors: Lankhorst
authors: Lynne
authors: L
authors: Turner-Stokes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012046:Rehabilitation / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents