The recognition and treatment of depression in older people inprimary care
M.J. Crawford
Bok Engelsk 1998
| Utgitt | 1998
|
|---|---|
| Omfang | Side 172- 176
|
| Opplysninger | Objectives. To examine general practitioners' (GP) awareness ofdepression in their elderly patients (aged over 65) and to identifycharacteristics of those patients least likely to be recognized andtreated.Design. A cross-sectional study comparing the clinical opinion of theGP with assessment of mental state using a validated interviewschedule (the Short Comprehensive Assessment and ReferralEvaluation).Setting and subjects. 510 elderly residents in the Gospel Oak area ofCamden in North London registered with 28 GPs at 13 practices.Main outcome measures. Agreement between GP view and patientinterview. Evidence of active management measured by examining GPrecords for appointments, referrals and prescription of psychotropicmediation.Results. GPs were aware of depression in 36 (51%) of 70 depressedpatients. Those least likely to be recognized were men, the married,those with high levels of physical handicap, those suffering fromvisual impairment and those who were least well educated. Of the 32patients believed to be depressed, 12 (38%) were prescribedantidepressant medication and/or referred to mental health/socialservices.Conclusions. Levels of recognition of depression were lower thanother recent reports. These findings may reflect the continued debateabout the most suitable management of the elderly depressed inprimary care and stress the need for further evaluation ofappropriate treatment strategies for this group. (C) 1998 John Wiley& Sons, Ltd.
|
| Emner |
