title: Factors associated with perceived feasibility and willingness of non-psychiatric doctors in Japan to treat depressed patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We previously reported that many non-psychiatric doctors in Japan believe that treating depression was not part of their duties. Educational interventions must address motivation of physicians to play a role in depression care. In this study, we explored factors associated with perceived feasibility and willingness of non-psychiatric doctors in Japan to treat depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population included non-psychiatric doctors of the General Physician-Psychiatrist (G-P) Network group in Japan. We explored perceived feasibility and willingness to treat depressed patients, and examined preliminary associations with attitudes toward depression (the Depression Attitude Questionnaire: DAQ) and current depression treatment in routine medical practice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Responses were obtained from 56 non-psychiatric doctors (response rate: 35.4%). The doctors who scored high on the "Professional" and "Pessimism" subscale of the DAQ believed that treating depressed patients was not feasible (chi2 = 13.6, p < 0.01; chi2 = 7.3, p < 0.05, respectively) and were not willing to treat depressed patients (chi2 = 9.4, p < 0.01; chi2 = 6.6, p < 0.05, respectively) as part of their routine medical practice. The doctors who scored high on the "Professional" subscale referred fewer depressed patients to psychiatrists (r = -0.33, p < 0.05), and those who scored high on the "Pessimism" subscale recognized fewer depressed patients (r = -0.39, p < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study showed that attitudes toward depression were associated with perceived feasibility and willingness to treat depressed patients and with under-diagnosis of depression. Educational interventions optimized for these attitudes should be developed to improve recognition and treatment of depression in Japan.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropsychiatry, Okayama University Hospital and National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Japan. masatoshiinagaki@okayama-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Masatoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Inagaki
authors.affiliation: National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Japan.
authors.forename: Tsuyuka
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohtsuki
authors.affiliation: Osaka Shoin Women's University, Japan.
authors.forename: Fuminobu
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ishikura
authors.affiliation: National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Japan.
authors.forename: Manami
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kodaka
authors.affiliation: Osaka Association of Psychiatric Clinics, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoichiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.affiliation: National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Japan.
authors.forename: Mitsuhiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamada
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010820:Physicians / Q000523:psychology* / Q000592:standards