title: [GPs' Perceptions of Strengths and Shortcomings of the ICD-10 for Diagnosis of depression].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  For the health care of people with depressive disorders, general practitioners are important contact persons. Some investigations have shown an under-diagnosis of these patients in GPs' surgeries. The significance of the ICD-10 for the diagnosis of depression is disputed. The BMBF-funded study "PSYTIA - Psychotherapy in old age" engages, among others, with the treatment of older people with depression in GPs' surgeries. This study presents the strengths and shortcomings of the ICD-10 for diagnosis of depression from the point of view of GPs.
  
  
  METHODS
  With the help of a questionnaire, 402 teaching GPs were asked how they diagnose and treat elderly people (60+) with depressive disorders in their practices. The response rate was 23.6%. 2 open-ended questions dealt with GPs' perceptions of strengths and shortcomings of ICD-10 for the diagnosis of depression. The responses were matched to inductively developed overarching categories.
  
  
  RESULTS
  About three-quarters of the respondents answered the 2 questions. While nearly one-fifth of the respondents did not state any opinion about the suitability of ICD-10 as a diagnostic instrument for depressive disorders, 41% of the respondents mentioned the shortcomings and one-third the strengths of ICD-10. Shortcomings and strengths relate primarily to the complexity of the instrument and its manageability in everyday practice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results show that application of ICD-10 in a GP's surgery depends on a holistic, hermeneutical approach to the case in family practice, a need for efficient practice management, and billing. These different perceptions explain the heterogeneous and ambivalent assessment of the suitability of ICD-10 for the diagnosis of depression.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Gerontologische Forschung e. V., Berlin.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kammerer
authors.affiliation: Institut für Gerontologische Forschung e. V., Berlin.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Falk
authors.affiliation: Institut für Allgemeinmedizin Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Döpfmer
authors.affiliation: Institut für Allgemeinmedizin Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Heintze
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis; D058005:General Practitioners; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D038801:International Classification of Diseases