Recognition of depression by non-psychiatric physicians--a systematic literature review and meta-analysis.
BACKGROUND
Depression, with up to 11.9% prevalence in the general population, is a common disorder strongly associated with increased morbidity. The accuracy of non-psychiatric physicians in recognizing depression may influence the outcome of the illness, as unrecognized patients are not offered treatment for depression.


OBJECTIVE
To describe and quantitatively summarize the existing data on recognition of depression by non-psychiatric physicians.


METHODS
We searched the following databases: MEDLINE (1966-2005), Psych INFO (1967-2005) and CINAHL (1982-2005). To summarize data presented in the papers reviewed, we calculated the Summary receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and the summary sensitivity, specificity and odds ratios (ORs) of recognition, and their 95% confidence intervals using the random effects model.


RESULTS
The summary sensitivity, specificity, and OR of recognition using the random effects model were: 36.4% (95% CI: 27.9-44.8), 83.7% (95% CI: 77.5-90.0), and 4.0 (95% CI: 3.2-4.9), respectively. We also calculated the Summary ROC. We performed a metaregression analysis, which showed that the method of documentation of recognition, the age of the sample, and the date of study publication have significant effect on the summary sensitivity and the odds of recognition, in the univariate model. Only the method of documentation had a significant effect on summary sensitivity, when the age of the sample and the date of publication were added to the model.


CONCLUSIONS
The accuracy of depression recognition by non-psychiatrist physicians is low. Further research should focus on developing standardized methods of documenting non-psychiatric physicians' recognition of depression.
Cepoiu
Monica
M
Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Community Studies, St. Mary's Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada. monica.cepoiu@ucalgary.ca
McCusker
Jane
J
Cole
Martin G
MG
Sewitch
Maida
M
Belzile
Eric
E
Ciampi
Antonio
A
D002983:Clinical Competence; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D006801:Humans; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010820:Physicians; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012372:ROC Curve; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity