The needs of depressed women: perspectives of family physicians.
Twenty family physicians (11 female and 9 male) were interviewed about their experiences in treating depressed patients. Interview transcripts were analyzed thematically with respect to physicians' understanding of women's depression and their treatment strategies with depressed women. Stress arising in the social context of women's lives was perceived as a key precipitant of depression in women, with family-related, gender-specific and practical sources of stress as the main contributors. Physicians' treatment strategies had the aims of alleviating depressive symptoms and stress reduction. Implications of the findings for primary health care delivery and community-based interventions with depressed women are discussed.
Department of Psychology, University of New Brunswick, Bag Service #45444, Fredericton, NB, Canada E3B 6E4. stoppard@unb.ca
Janet M
JM
Stoppard
Roanne
R
Thomas-MacLean
Baukje
B
Miedema
Sue
S
Tatemichi
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000739:Anecdotes as Topic; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005194:Family Practice / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009509:New Brunswick; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000458:organization & administration; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires