In a case vignette study, 41% of general practitioners offered watchful waiting and 34% prescribed medication immediately for a patient presenting with mild depressive disorder.
Cross-Sectional (n=117)
Yes
General practitioners' self-reported management of depression generally aligns with national guidelines, though there is room for improvement in the continuation phase of pharmacological treatment.
Aims and Method The study aimed to examine general practitioner (GP) views about the appropriate management of a patient with a depressive disorder. A questionnaire based around a patient case history was sent to 188 GPs from 11 primary care groups nationally. Results The response rate was 62%. At first presentation, a third of GPs offered ‘watchful waiting’ and a third prescribed medication. If the patient's condition deteriorated, nearly all GPs initiated therapeutic doses of antidepressant medication immediately. If the patient failed to respond, 60% of GPs commenced second-line antidepressant treatment. Following recovery, a quarter of GPs would continue antidepressant treatment for 4 months or more. Clinical Implications GPs' interventions in the management of depression concur with expert national guidelines. There is scope for strengthening the effectiveness of pharmacological intervention in the later stages of treatment.
Marriott et al. (Mon,) conducted a cross-sectional in Depressive disorder (GP management views) (n=117). Case vignette questionnaire was evaluated on Proportion of GPs choosing specific management strategies at initial presentation. In a case vignette study, 41% of general practitioners offered watchful waiting and 34% prescribed medication immediately for a patient presenting with mild depressive disorder.