[Recognition of depression and related risk factors among non psychiatric doctors in tertiary general hospital outpatients in Beijing].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the level of identification and related factors of depression in physicians of Beijing tertiary general hospitals.


METHODS
A cross-sectional investigation was used to screen the outpatients, and depression was diagnosed according to Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI). Identification of depression was defined as referral to psychiatrist or managed with antidepressant or sedative hypnotics.


RESULTS
Among 248 cases of depression, 30 (12.1%) were referred to psychiatrists, 28(8.9%) managed with antidepressant or sedative hypnotics. The identification rate of depression by physicians was 21.0%, and the identification rate by neurologist was 40.4%, which is higher than the rate by cardiologist (22.4%), gastrointestinal physician (3.8%) and gynecologist (2.0%) (χ2=61.077, P<0.05). Visiting neurology department, severity of life impairment, with psychotic distress history, had psychological complaints, co-morbidity with anxiety related to the physician's identification of depression. Among the psychological complaints, only mood disorder and insomnia were related to the physician's identification of depression.


CONCLUSIONS
The level of depression identification by physician was low, the level of neurologist was higher than that of cardiologist, gastrointestinal physician and gynecologist. The patient with serious life impairment, psychotic distress history, mood disorder and insomnia complaints was easily to be identified.
Jiang
Rong-huan
RH
Peking University Mental Health Institute, Beijing 100191, China.
Dang
Wei-min
WM
Ma
Hong
H
Liu
Mei-yan
MY
Bai
Wen-pei
WP
Wei
Jing
J
He
Yan-ling
YL
D000328:Adult; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010045:Outpatients; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology*