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A study is presented using the method of pseudopatient observations in the context of general practice. Persons playing the role of a patient suffering from a depression of psychosocial origin presented themselves to a random sample of 25 general practitioners such that each of the general practitioners saw one male and one female pseudopatient for an initial visit. The most common form of treatment was by prescription (78% of all consultations), of which 90% contained at least one psychotropic agent. Other treatments were reassurance and discussion (42%), counselling (28%), psychiatric referrals (12%) and social agency referrals (4%). No mention of possible side effects was given in 57% of the occasions when a psychotropic drug was given. The method used is discussed and recommendations are made for its further use on a more regular basis as a monitoring device for the quality of primary care.
Owen et al. (Sun,) studied this question.