Community and health professionals' attitude toward depression: a pilot study in nine EAAD countries.
BACKGROUND
Community facilitators (CFs), such as pharmacists, policemen, teachers and clergy, may be an important community resource for patients with depression in addition to (mental) health professionals. However, they are ill prepared for such a role and little is known about their attitudes toward depression, which may affect practice.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate CFs' attitudes toward depression and compare them to those of (mental) health professionals and nurses.


METHODS
Attitudes were assessed in participants (n = 2,670) of training programmes about depression in nine countries of the European Alliance Against Depression (EAAD). The EAAD questionnaire included attitudes toward depression and its treatment, perceived causes, preferred treatment options, and knowledge of depression symptoms.


RESULTS
CFs and nurses had a more negative attitude toward patients with depression and toward antidepressants, and more limited knowledge of depression symptoms than (mental) health professionals. CFs more frequently supported non-standard treatment for depression. Nurse assistants clearly differed from registered nurses with their attitudes being among the least favourable and their knowledge the most limited of all groups.


CONCLUSIONS
CFs and nurses had less favourable attitudes and more limited knowledge regarding depression when compared to mental health professionals and doctors. This may negatively affect professional collaboration, challenge optimal treatment and stigmatize patients. CFs' and nurses' knowledge and attitudes may be similar to those of the general population and be related to a lack of training in mental health issues.
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium. gert.scheerder@med.kuleuven.be
Gert
G
Scheerder
Chantal
C
Van Audenhove
Ella
E
Arensman
Barbara
B
Bernik
Giancarlo
G
Giupponi
Anne-Claire
AC
Horel
Margaret
M
Maxwell
Merike
M
Sisask
Andras
A
Szekely
Airi
A
Värnik
Ulrich
U
Hegerl
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D003863:Depression; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires