title: Managing antidepressants in primary care: physicians' treatment modifications.
abstract: To examine antidepressant management practices in primary care, patients (N = 148) given an antidepressant for at least one month completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and a demographic survey. Participants' mean age was 50.7 yr. and 80% were women. Patients' charts indicated whether physicians had made changes to prescribed antidepressants or dose either 6 wk. before or 6 wk. after study entry. For the 87% of participants whose depression status could be determined, 10% met dysthymic disorder criteria and only 33% had had a medication change in the previous month. Major depressive disorder occurred in 37% but only 18% had had a medication change. Co-existing dysthymic disorder and major depressive disorder were diagnosed in 34%, with 24% receiving a medication change. Participants not receiving a medication change had mean BDI-II scores indicating moderate depression. Lack of antidepressant adjustment suggests physicians may need to monitor depressive symptoms closely using protocols and prompts.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, University of Toledo, 3000 Arlington Avenue, Mail Stop 1193, Toledo, OH 43614-2598, USA. marijo.tamburrino@utoledo.edu
authors: Marijo B
authors: MB
authors: Tamburrino
authors: Rollin W
authors: RW
authors: Nagel
authors: Denis J
authors: DJ
authors: Lynch
mesh_terms: D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D019263:Dysthymic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents