General practitioners' views on the major psychiatric classification systems.
OBJECTIVE
To understand the views of general practitioners on the utility of diagnostic schema as used by specialist psychiatrists and principles that would increase the value of diagnostic schema to general practitioners.


METHODS
A postal survey of 1000 vocationally registered general practitioners in New Zealand


RESULTS
Diagnostic schema such as the DSM-IV and ICD-10 are seldom used by general practitioners due primarily to their complexity and a lack of familiarity with them. Providing decision support on pharmaceutical treatment, appropriate secondary care referrals and improving communication across the primary/secondary care divide are principles that should guide the development of future diagnostic schema. Integration of schema into existing computerised practice management systems is considered a key success factor.


CONCLUSIONS
Specialist devised schema fit uncomfortably into general practice. There is need for management orientated diagnostic schema that meet the requirements of general practitioners.
Lillis
Steven
S
Waikato Clinical School, Waikato Hospital, Private Bag 3200, Hamilton, New Zealand. Lilliss@waikatodhb.govt.nz
Mellsop
Graham
G
Dutu
Gaelle
G
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010821:Physicians, Family; D011320:Primary Health Care