Recognition of depression by non-psychiatric physicians--a systematic literature review and meta-analysis

Depression in primary care: current and future challenges

OBJECTIVES

To describe the current state of knowledge about detection and treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) by family physicians (FPs), and to identify gaps in practice and current and future challenges.

METHODS

We reviewed the recent literature on MDD (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, or International Classification of Diseases, Revision 10) in primary care, with an emphasis on systematic reviews and meta-analyses addressing prevalence, the impact of an aging population and of chronic disease on MDD rates in primary care, detection and treatment rates by FPs, adequacy of treatment, and interventions that could improve recognition and treatment.

RESULTS

About 10% of primary care patients are likely to meet criteria for MDD. The number of cases will increase as the baby boomer cohort ages and as the prevalence of chronic disease increases. The bidirectional relation between MDD and chronic disease is now firmly established. Detection and treatment rates in primary care remain low. Treatment quality is frequently inadequate in terms of follow-up and monitoring. Formal case management and collaborative care interventions are likely to provide some benefits.

CONCLUSIONS

Low detection rates and low treatment rates need to be addressed. Planned reassessment may improve detection rates when the FP is uncertain whether MDD is present, but further research is needed to determine why FPs frequently do not initiate treatment, even when MDD is detected. A caring, attentive FP who monitors depressed patients is likely to have considerable placebo effect. Greater focus on integrated, concurrent treatment for MDD and chronic physical diseases in the middle-aged and elderly is also required.

Cost of depression among adults in Japan

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to estimate the annual national cost of major depressive disorder among adults 20 years and older in Japan in 2008.

METHOD

The analysis used was a top-down costing approach based on national health statistics. From the societal perspective, the costs examined were direct medical costs, depression-related suicide costs, and workplace costs for all members of society. Direct medical costs included both inpatient and outpatient medical costs, while workplace costs included both absenteeism and presenteeism costs. The authors performed 1-way sensitivity analyses to examine the extent to which results were affected by the choice of parameters used in the cost calculation. All costs were expressed in 2008 US dollar terms.

RESULTS

The economic burden of depression in Japan was approximately $11 billion, with $1,570 million relating to direct medical costs, $2,542 million to depression-related suicide costs, and $6,912 million to workplace costs. Compared to previously published studies, this study adopted conservative key assumptions; this may have resulted in a conservative estimate of the annual national cost of depression.

CONCLUSIONS

Depression imposes a substantial economic burden on Japanese society, which highlights the urgent need for policymakers to allocate resources toward implementing strategies that prevent and manage depression in the Japanese population.

Evaluation of a mental health training intervention for multidisciplinary teams in primary care in Brazil: a pre- and posttest study

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this research was to investigate whether a training intervention to enhance collaboration between mental health and primary care professionals improved the detection and management of mental health problems in primary health care in four large cities in Brazil. The training intervention was a multifaceted program over 96 h focused on development of a shared care model.

METHOD

A quasiexperimental study design was undertaken with assessment of performance by nurse and general practitioners (GPs) pre- and postintervention. Rates of recognition of mental health disorders (compared with the General Health Questionnaire) were the primary outcome, while self-reports of patient-centered care, psychosocial interventions and referral were the secondary outcomes.

RESULTS

Six to 8 months postintervention, no changes were observed in terms of rate of recognition across the entire sample. Nurses significantly increased their recognition rates (from 23% to 39%, P=.05), while GPs demonstrated a significant decrease (from 42% to 30%, P=.04). There were significant increases in reports of patient-centered care, but no changes in other secondary outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Training professionals in a shared care model was not associated with consistent improvements in the recognition or management of mental health problems. Although instabilities in the local context may have contributed to the lack of effects, wider changes in the system of care may be required to augment training and encourage reliable changes in behavior, and more specific educating models are necessary.

Targeted versus tailored multimedia patient engagement to enhance depression recognition and treatment in primary care: randomized controlled trial protocol for the AMEP2 study

BACKGROUND

Depression in primary care is common, yet this costly and disabling condition remains underdiagnosed and undertreated. Persisting gaps in the primary care of depression are due in part to patients' reluctance to bring depressive symptoms to the attention of their primary care clinician and, when depression is diagnosed, to accept initial treatment for the condition. Both targeted and tailored communication strategies offer promise for fomenting discussion and reducing barriers to appropriate initial treatment of depression.

METHODS/DESIGN

The Activating Messages to Enhance Primary Care Practice (AMEP2) Study is a stratified randomized controlled trial comparing two computerized multimedia patient interventions -- one targeted (to patient gender and income level) and one tailored (to level of depressive symptoms, visit agenda, treatment preferences, depression causal attributions, communication self-efficacy and stigma)-- and an attention control. AMEP2 consists of two linked sub-studies, one focusing on patients with significant depressive symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 [PHQ-9] scores ≥ 5), the other on patients with few or no depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 < 5). The first sub-study examined effectiveness of the interventions; key outcomes included delivery of components of initial depression care (antidepressant prescription or mental health referral). The second sub-study tracked potential hazards (clinical distraction and overtreatment). A telephone interview screening procedure assessed patients for eligibility and oversampled patients with significant depressive symptoms. Sampled, consenting patients used computers to answer survey questions, be randomized, and view assigned interventions just before scheduled primary care office visits. Patient surveys were also collected immediately post-visit and 12 weeks later. Physicians completed brief reporting forms after each patient's index visit. Additional data were obtained from medical record abstraction and visit audio recordings. Of 6,191 patients assessed, 867 were randomized and included in analysis, with 559 in the first sub-study and 308 in the second.

DISCUSSION

Based on formative research, we developed two novel multimedia programs for encouraging patients to discuss depressive symptoms with their primary care clinicians. Our computer-based enrollment and randomization procedures ensured that randomization was fully concealed and data missingness minimized. Analyses will focus on the interventions' potential benefits among depressed persons, and the potential hazards among the non-depressed.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicialTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01144104.

An academic-marketing collaborative to promote depression care: a tale of two cultures

OBJECTIVES

Commercial advertising and patient education have separate theoretical underpinnings, approaches, and practitioners. This paper aims to describe a collaboration between academic researchers and a marketing firm working to produce demographically targeted public service anouncements (PSAs) designed to enhance depression care-seeking in primary care.

METHODS

An interdisciplinary group of academic researchers contracted with a marketing firm in Rochester, NY to produce PSAs that would help patients with depressive symptoms engage more effectively with their primary care physicians (PCPs). The researchers brought perspectives derived from clinical experience and the social sciences and conducted empirical research using focus groups, conjoint analysis, and a population-based survey. Results were shared with the marketing firm, which produced four PSA variants targeted to gender and socioeconomic position.

RESULTS

There was no simple, one-to-one relationship between research results and the form, content, or style of the PSAs. Instead, empirical findings served as a springboard for discussion and kept the creative process tethered to the experiences, attitudes, and opinions of actual patients. Reflecting research findings highlighting patients' struggles to recognize, label, and disclose depressive symptoms, the marketing firm generated communication objectives that emphasized: (a) educating the patient to consider and investigate the possibility of depression; (b) creating the belief that the PCP is interested in discussing depression and capable of offering helpful treatment; and (c) modelling different ways of communicating with physicians about depression. Before production, PSA prototypes were vetted with additional focus groups. The winning prototype, "Faces," involved a multi-ethnic montage of formerly depressed persons talking about how depression affected them and how they improved with treatment, punctuated by a physician who provided clinical information. A member of the academic team was present and consulted closely during production. Challenges included reconciling the marketing tradition of audience segmentation with the overall project goal of reaching as broad an audience as possible; integrating research findings across dimensions of words, images, music, and tone; and dealing with misunderstandings related to project scope and budget.

CONCLUSION

Mixed methods research can usefully inform PSAs that incorporate patient perspectives and are produced to professional standards. However, tensions between the academic and commercial worlds exist and must be addressed.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

While rewarding, academic-marketing collaborations introduce tensions which must be addressed.

Population impact of depression on functional disability in elderly: results from "São Paulo Ageing & Health Study" (SPAH)

With the fast population aging, functional disability among the elderly is becoming a major public health issue. Depression is highly prevalent in this phase of life and may be associated with a significant proportion of the disability among elderly populations. We investigated the association of depressive symptoms and ICD-10 depression with functional disability in older adults and estimated the corresponding population attributable fractions (PAF). A cross-sectional one-phase population-based study was carried out with 2,072 individuals aged 65 years or over living in a low-income area of São Paulo, Brazil. Depressive symptoms and ICD-10 depression were assessed with the Geriatric Mental State and the Neuropsychiatric Inventory. We assessed functional disability with the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule Instrument. Prevalence Ratios and PAF were calculated using Poisson regression. The prevalence of depressive symptoms and ICD-10 depression was 21.4 and 4.8 %, respectively. Depression and depressive symptoms were strongly associated with high functional disability, even after adjustment for demographic factors, socioeconomic conditions, physical morbidities, and dementia. The PAFs for depressive symptoms and ICD-10 depression were 12.0 % for each of the psychiatric morbidity. Depressive symptoms contributed as much as ICD-10 depression to the population burden of functional disability in the elderly. Effective management of clinically significant depressive symptoms, delivered mainly at the primary care level, may reduce the total population disability.

Use of standardised patients in the evaluation of a residency mood disorders curriculum: a brief report

Background and objectives The purpose of this paper is to describe the use of resident performance on an observed structured clinical examination (OSCE) as a tool to refine a mood disorders curriculum, and to disseminate a mood disorders OSCE for use in other residency settings. Methods A depression-focused OSCE and a direct observation evaluation tool were developed and implemented. A total of 24 first-year family medicine residents (PGY1) participated in the OSCE, and their performance was used to direct changes in a mood disorders curriculum. Results Residents performed well on general interview behaviours, and 67% were able to uncover depression in a patient presenting with headaches. Less than 50% of the residents asked about suicidal ideation and recreational drug use. Curriculum was added that addressed the latter deficiencies. Conclusions Tracking of resident performance on specific behaviours during OSCE sessions can be used for curriculum evaluation purposes. The mood disorders curriculum in additional family medicine residency programmes can now be evaluated using our depression-focused OSCE and Clinical Performance Checklist.

Somatoform, factitious, and related diagnoses in the national hospital discharge survey: addressing the proposed DSM-5 revision

BACKGROUND

The DSM-5 working group on the somatoform (SFD) and factitious (FD) disorders has recommended substantial revisions of these categories. The recommendations are based, in part, on anecdotal evidence that the diagnoses are infrequently used.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the assignment rates for SFD, FD, and related diagnoses among general medical inpatients.

METHOD

The National Hospital Discharge Survey was queried for instances of SFD and FD, along with related diagnoses identifying medical cases in which psychological factors play a role. Diagnoses of major depression and generalized anxiety disorder were queried for comparison purposes.

RESULTS

The target diagnoses were assigned far less frequently than published prevalence and recognition rates suggest. Nearly half of the assigned target diagnoses were generic diagnoses (esp. physiological malfunction due to psychological factors) other than SFD or FD. However, the apparent degree of underassignment of the target diagnoses was not dramatically greater than the underassignment observed for major depression and generalized anxiety disorder.

CONCLUSION

The results provide empirical support for the impression that physicians do not assign SFD and FD diagnoses in recognized cases, but do not strongly support the assertion that these diagnoses are uniquely problematic.

Screening for major depressive disorder in adults with cerebral glioma: an initial validation of 3 self-report instruments

No depression screening tool is validated for use in cases of cerebral glioma. To address this, we studied the operating characteristics of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (Depression subscale) (HAD-D), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and the Distress Thermometer (DT) in glioma patients.We conducted a twin-center prospective observational cohort study of major depressive disorder (MDD), according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, 4th edition, in adults with a new diagnosis of cerebral glioma receiving active management or "watchful waiting." At each of 3 interviews over a 6-month period, patients completed the screening questionnaires and received a structured clinical interview to diagnose MDD. Internal consistency, area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and positive likelihood ratio were calculated. A maximum of 154 patients completed the DT, 133 completed the HAD-D, and 129 completed the PHQ-9. The HAD-D and PHQ-9 showed good internal consistency (α ≥ 0.77 at all timepoints). Median AUCs were 0.931 ± 0.074 for the HAD-D and 0.915 ± 0.055 for the PHQ-9. The optimal threshold was 7+ for the HAD-D, but 8+ had similar operating characteristics. There was no consistently optimal PHQ-9 threshold, but 10+ was optimal in the largest sample. The DT was inferior to the multi-item instruments. Clinicians can screen for depression in well-functioning glioma patients using the HAD-D at the existing recommended lower threshold of 8+, or the PHQ-9 at a threshold of 10+. Due to a modest positive predictive value of either instrument, patients scoring above these thresholds need a clinical assessment to diagnose or exclude depression.

[Integral Care Guide for Early Detection and Diagnosis of Depressive Episodes and Recurrent Depressive Disorder in Adults. Integral Attention of Adults with a Diagnosis of Depressive Episodes and Recurrent Depressive Disorder: Part I: Risk Factors, Screening, Suicide Risk Diagnosis and Assessment in Patients with a Depression Diagnosis]

INTRODUCTION

Depression is an important cause of morbidity and disability in the world; however, it is under-diagnosed at all care levels.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose here is to present recommendations based on the evidence gathered to answer a series of clinical questions concerning risk factors, screening, suicide risk diagnosis and evaluation in patients undergoing a depressive episode and recurrent depressive disorder. Emphasis has been made upon the approach used at the primary care level so as to grant adult diagnosed patients the health care guidelines based on the best and more updated evidence available thus achieving minimum quality standards.

METHODOLOGY

A practical clinical guide was elaborated according to standards of the Methodological Guide of the Ministry of Social Protection. Recommendation from guides NICE90 and CANMAT were adopted and updated so as to answer the questions posed while de novo questions were developed.

RESULTS

Recommendations 1-22 corresponding to screening, suicide risk and depression diagnosis were presented. The corresponding degree of recommendation is included.

Incidence, patient characteristics and treatment initiated for GP-diagnosed depression in general practice: results of a 1-year nationwide surveillance study

BACKGROUND

Despite its public health significance, data about depression in general practice are often unavailable.

OBJECTIVE

To study (i) the incidence of GP-diagnosed depression during 2008, (ii) associations between patient characteristics, appraised severity and initiated treatment, (iii) GPs' usual care compared to diagnostic criteria from Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition guidelines and the newly developed practice guideline of the Society of Flemish GPs (2008) and (iv) GPs' initiated treatments compared to the Flemish Guideline.

METHODS

General practice-based data were collected on all patients of ≥18 years who were diagnosed by their GP with a new episode of depression in Belgian sentinel general practices (SGP) during 2008.

RESULTS

Data on 1739 persons were recorded by 172 sentinel general practices. Incidence rates for GP-diagnosed depression were estimated at 719/100 000 men and 1440/100 000 women. Thirty-one per cent of patients had mild, 50% had moderate and 19% had severe GP-diagnosed depression. Although only 43% of the patients at risk for suicide were considered to have severe depression, having thoughts of death or suicide was the main factor associated with increased severity of depression. Seventy-five per cent of patients received a prescription for an antidepressive agent; 29% received a prescription for another psychoactive agent; in 36%, non-pharmaceutical support was initiated by the GP and 25% received a referral. In contrast with the Flemish GP guideline criteria: (i) 69% of patients with a new episode of mild or a first episode of moderate depression were prescribed an antidepressive agent and (ii) only 39% of the patients with severe depression were both prescribed an antidepressive agent and referred to a mental health service.

CONCLUSIONS

This study has yielded original data on the incidence and management of depression in Belgian general practice. Our findings show that efforts are needed to improve depression management in Belgian general practice.

Prevention of poor psychosocial outcomes in living organ donors: from description to theory-driven intervention development and initial feasibility testing

CONTEXT

Although some living donors experience psychological, somatic, and interpersonal difficulties after donation, interventions to prevent such outcomes have not been developed or evaluated.

OBJECTIVE

To (1) summarize empirical evidence on psychosocial outcomes after donation, (2) describe a theoretical framework to guide development of an intervention to prevent poor outcomes, and (3) describe development and initial evaluation of feasibility and acceptability of the intervention.

METHODS

Based on a narrative literature review suggesting that individuals ambivalent about donation are at risk for poor psychosocial outcomes after donation, the intervention targeted this risk factor. Intervention structure and content drew on motivational interviewing principles in order to assist prospective donors to resolve ambivalence. Data were collected on donors' characteristics at our institution to determine whether they constituted a representative population in which to evaluate the intervention. Study participants were then recruited to assess the feasibility and acceptability of the intervention. They were required to have scores greater than 0 on the Simmons Ambivalence Scale (indicating at least some ambivalence about donation).

RESULTS

Our population was similar to the national living donor population on most demographic and donation-related characteristics. Eight individuals who had been approved to donate either a kidney or liver segment were enrolled for pilot testing of the intervention. All successfully completed the 2-session telephone-based intervention before scheduled donation surgery. Participants' ratings of acceptability and satisfaction were high. Open-ended comments indicated that the intervention addressed participants' thoughts and concerns about the decision to donate.

CONCLUSIONS

The intervention is feasible, acceptable, and appears relevant to donor concerns. A clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of the intervention is warranted.

Women and the DSM-5: a clinician's response to the question of invisibility

Diagnosis of psychiatric conditions is a topic that is currently receiving significant attention in light of the release of the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders in 2013. The process of the revisions is complex and involves political, social, and economic influences, all of which are amplified in an evolving corporate health care system in the United States. Of particular concern in the development of the revised nosology is the representation of gender-specific diagnoses and course specifiers to reflect the distinct manifestations of the psychiatric symptoms of women. Based on a growing body of psychobiological evidence related to gender differences in symptom manifestation, gender specific diagnoses remain palpably absent from the taxonomy. This article explores the issue of invisibility of women-specific diagnosis from the perspective of a women's health advanced practice nurse.

Collaborative Interventions for Circulation and Depression (COINCIDE): study protocol for a cluster randomized controlled trial of collaborative care for depression in people with diabetes and/or coronary heart disease

BACKGROUND

Depression is up to two to three times as common in people with long-term conditions. It negatively affects medical management of disease and self-care behaviors, and leads to poorer quality of life and high costs in primary care. Screening and treatment of depression is increasingly prioritized, but despite initiatives to improve access and quality of care, depression remains under-detected and under-treated, especially in people with long-term conditions. Collaborative care is known to positively affect the process and outcome of care for people with depression and long-term conditions, but its effectiveness outside the USA is still relatively unknown. Furthermore, collaborative care has yet to be tested in settings that resemble more naturalistic settings that include patient choice and the usual care providers. The aim of this study was to test the effectiveness of a collaborative-care intervention, for people with depression and diabetes/coronary heart disease in National Health Service (NHS) primary care, in which low-intensity psychological treatment services are delivered by the usual care provider - Increasing Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services. The study also aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the intervention over 6 months, and to assess qualitatively the extent to which collaborative care was implemented in the intervention general practices.

METHODS

This is a cluster randomized controlled trial of 30 general practices allocated to either collaborative care or usual care. Fifteen patients per practice will be recruited after a screening exercise to detect patients with recognized depression (≥10 on the nine-symptom Patient Health Questionnaire; PHQ-9). Patients in the collaborative-care arm with recognized depression will be offered a choice of evidence-based low-intensity psychological treatments based on cognitive and behavioral approaches. Patients will be case managed by psychological well-being practitioners employed by IAPT in partnership with a practice nurse and/or general practitioner. The primary outcome will be change in depressive symptoms at 6 months on the 90-item Symptoms Checklist (SCL-90). Secondary outcomes include change in health status, self-care behaviors, and self-efficacy. A qualitative process evaluation will be undertaken with patients and health practitioners to gauge the extent to which the collaborative-care model is implemented, and to explore sustainability beyond the clinical trial.

DISCUSSION

COINCIDE will assess whether collaborative care can improve patient-centered outcomes, and evaluate access to and quality of care of co-morbid depression of varying intensity in people with diabetes/coronary heart disease. Additionally, by working with usual care providers such as IAPT, and by identifying and evaluating interventions that are effective and appropriate for routine use in the NHS, the COINCIDE trial offers opportunities to address translational gaps between research and implementation.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ISRCTN80309252 TRIAL STATUS: Open.

Neurologists' diagnostic accuracy of depression and cognitive problems in patients with parkinsonism

Background

Depression and cognitive impairment (CI) are important non-motor symptoms in Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and related syndromes, but it is not clear how well they are recognised in daily practice. We have studied the diagnostic performance of experienced neurologists on the topics depression and cognitive impairment during a routine encounter with a patient with recent-onset parkinsonian symptoms.

Methods

Two experienced neurologists took the history and examined 104 patients with a recent-onset parkinsonian disorder, and assessed the presence of depression and cognitive impairment. On the same day, all patients underwent a Hamilton Depression Rating Scale test, and a Scales for Outcomes in Parkinson’s Disease-Cognition-test (SCOPA-COG).

Results

The sensitivity of the neurologists for the topic depression was poor: 33.3%. However, the specificity varied from 90.8 to 94.7%. The patients’ sensitivity was higher, although the specificity was lower. On the topic CI, the sensitivity of the neurologists was again low, in a range from 30.4 up to 34.8%: however the specificity was high, with 92.9%. The patients’ sensitivity and specificity were both lower, compared to the number of the neurologists.

Conclusions

Neurologists’ intuition and clinical judgment alone are not accurate for detection of depression or cognitive impairment in patients with recent-onset parkinsonian symptoms because of low sensitivity despite of high specificity.

Trial registration

(ITRSCC)NCT0036819.

Is co-morbid depression adequately treated in patients repeatedly referred to specialist medical services with symptoms of a medical condition?

OBJECTIVE

Patients with a medical condition and co-morbid depression have more symptoms and use more medical services. We aimed to determine the prevalence of depression and the adequacy of its treatment in patients who had been repeatedly referred from primary to specialist medical care for the assessment of a medical condition.

METHODS

All patients who had at least three referrals to medical and surgical specialists for an assessment of symptoms attributed to a medical condition, over a five year period from five primary care practices in Edinburgh, UK were identified using a referral database and review of records. Participants were sent a questionnaire which included the PHQ-9 depression scale and additional questions about depression during the preceding 5years. Details of treatment for depression were obtained from primary care records.

RESULTS

Questionnaires were sent to 230 patients and returned by 162 (70.4%). Forty-one (25.3%) had a PHQ-9 score of 10 or more and hence probable current depressive disorder. An additional 36 (22.2%) reported depression in the previous 5years. Only eight (19.5%) of those reporting current depression and 20 (26%) of the 77 patients reporting previous depression had received minimally adequate treatment for it.

CONCLUSION

Whilst we know that patients with medical conditions are often depressed and that such co-morbid depression is often undertreated, we have found that it is undertreated even in patients repeatedly referred to medical specialists. Better assessment and management of depression in such patients could both improve patients' quality of life and reduce the cost of care.

Prevalence of depressive and anxiety disorders in Chinese gastroenterological outpatients

AIM: To investigate the prevalence and physicians’ detection rate of depressive and anxiety disorders in gastrointestinal (GI) outpatients across China.

METHODS: A hospital-based cross-sectional survey was conducted in the GI outpatient departments of 13 general hospitals. A total of 1995 GI outpatients were recruited and screened with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). The physicians of the GI departments performed routine clinical diagnosis and management without knowing the HADS score results. Subjects with HADS scores ≥ 8 were subsequently interviewed by psychiatrists using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) to make further diagnoses.

RESULTS: There were 1059 patients with HADS score ≥ 8 and 674 (63.64%) of them undertook the MINI interview by psychiatrists. Based on the criteria of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th edition), the adjusted current prevalence for depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, and comorbidity of both disorders in the GI outpatients was 14.39%, 9.42% and 4.66%, respectively. Prevalence of depressive disorders with suicidal problems [suicide attempt or suicide-related ideation prior or current; module C (suicide) of MINI score ≥ 1] was 5.84% in women and 1.64% in men. The GI physicians’ detection rate of depressive and anxiety disorders accounted for 4.14%.

CONCLUSION: While the prevalence of depressive and anxiety disorders is high in Chinese GI outpatients, the detection rate of depressive and anxiety disorders by physicians is low.

Trends in depression and antidepressant prescribing in children and adolescents: a cohort study in The Health Improvement Network (THIN)

BACKGROUND

In 2003, the Committee on Safety of Medicines (CSM) advised against treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) other than fluoxetine in children, due to a possible increased risk of suicidal behaviour. This study examined the effects of this safety warning on general practitioners' depression diagnosing and prescription behaviour in children.

METHODS AND FINDINGS

We identified a cohort of 1,502,753 children (<18 y; registered with GP for >6 m) in The Health Improvement Network (THIN) UK primary care database. Trends in incidence of depression diagnoses, symptoms and antidepressant prescribing were examined 1995-2009, accounting for deprivation, age and gender. We used segmented regression analysis to assess changes in prescription rates. Overall, 45,723 (3%) children had ≥ 1 depression-related entry in their clinical records. SSRIs were prescribed to 16,925 (1%) of children. SSRI prescription rates decreased from 3.2 (95%CI:3.0,3.3) per 1,000 person-years at risk (PYAR) in 2002 to 1.7 (95%CI:1.7,1.8) per 1,000 PYAR in 2005, but have since risen to 2.7 (95%CI:2.6,2.8) per 1,000 PYAR in 2009. Prescription rates for CSM-contraindicated SSRIs citalopram, sertraline and especially paroxetine dropped dramatically after 2002, while rates for fluoxetine and amitriptyline remained stable. After 2005 rates for all antidepressants, except paroxetine and imipramine, started to rise again. Rates for depression diagnoses dropped from 3.0 (95%CI:2.8,3.1) per 1,000 PYAR in 2002 to 2.0 (95%CI:1.9,2.1) per 1,000 PYAR in 2005 and have been stable since. Recording of symptoms saw a steady increase from 1.0 (95%CI:0.8,1.2) per 1,000 PYAR in 1995 to 4.7 (95%CI:4.5,4.8) per 1,000 PYAR in 2009.

CONCLUSIONS

The rates of depression diagnoses and SSRI prescriptions showed a significant drop around the time of the CSM advice, which was not present in the recording of symptoms. This could indicate caution on the part of GPs in making depression diagnoses and prescribing antidepressants following the CSM advice.

Can we determine depressive conditions on the basis of somatic symptoms? A cross-sectional study of depressive conditions among Japanese patients at a university hospital general medicine clinic

OBJECTIVE

We evaluated the relationship between somatic symptoms and depressive conditions among patients visiting the general medicine clinic of a university hospital.

METHODS

We distributed interview forms to 332 consecutive patients who visited our clinic for the first time between March and July 2011. Somatic symptoms were rated using a symptom checklist, and depressive conditions were evaluated using the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS). We categorized and compared 2 groups of patients: patients with an SDS score of more than 48 (depressive group) and patients with an SDS score of less than 48 (non-depressive group).

RESULTS

A total of 284 (85.5%) patients returned the forms. The SDS scores were obtained from the forms of 182 patients (64.1%). The average age of these 182 patients was 46.5±18.04 years. The mean number of checked symptoms was 4.3±3.03, and the most common symptom was general fatigue (n=106; 58.2%). The number of checked symptoms in the survey was higher in the depressive group patients than in the non-depressive group patients. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that general fatigue, headache, and sleeping problems were significant dependent variables which were related to depressive conditions. We defined these 3 symptoms as depression-related somatic symptoms (DRSS). On a receiver-operating characteristic curve, the optimal cutoff scores were 2 of 3 DRSS and 4 of 20 somatic symptoms.

CONCLUSION

General physicians should consider possible depressive conditions when patients have 2 or more DRSS or 4 or more somatic symptoms.

Depression screening and treatment among nonpregnant women of reproductive age in the United States, 1990-2010

INTRODUCTION

Whether routine screening for depression among nonpregnant women of reproductive age improves identification and treatment of the disorder remains unclear. We conducted a systematic review of the literature to address 5 key questions specific to this population: 1) What are the current national clinical practice recommendations and guidelines for depression screening; 2) What are the prevalence and predictors of screening; 3) How well do screening tools detect depression; 4) Does screening lead to diagnosis, treatment, and improved outcomes; and 5) What are the most effective treatment methods?

METHODS

We searched bibliographic databases for full-length articles published in English between 1990 and 2010 that addressed at least 1 of our key questions.

RESULTS

We identified 5 clinical practice guidelines pertinent to question 1, and 12 systematic reviews or post-hoc analyses of pooled data that addressed questions 3 through 5. No systematic reviews addressed question 2; however, we identified 4 individual studies addressing this question. Current guidelines do not recommend universal screening for depression in adults, unless staff supports are in place to diagnose, treat, and follow up patients. Reported screening rates ranged from 33% to 84% among women. Several validated screening tools for depression exist; however, their performance among this population is unknown. Screening in high-risk populations may improve the patient's receipt of diagnosis and treatment. Effective treatments include exercise, psychotherapy, and pharmacotherapy.

CONCLUSION

More research is needed on whether routine screening for depression among women of reproductive age increases diagnosis and treatment of depression, improves preconception health, and reduces adverse outcomes.

Do GPs' medical records demonstrate a good recognition of depression? A new perspective on case extraction

BACKGROUND

Previous estimates of depression recognition in primary care are low and inconsistent. This may be due to registration artifacts and limited extraction efforts. This study investigated a) whether GPs' medical records demonstrate an accurate recognition of depression and b) which combinations of indications within the record most accurately reflect a diagnosis of depression.

METHODS

GPs' registrations were compared with a reference standard, the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI), according to DSM-IV criteria. Six definitions of GPs' recognition of depression were tested using diagnostic codes, medication data, referral data and free text in the medical records. The Youden-index was used to select the optimal definition of recognition. Data were derived from the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety. 816 primary care patients from 33 general practitioners were included in the vicinities of Amsterdam and Leiden, The Netherlands.

RESULTS

Registration of antidepressant prescriptions was the best single indicator of GPs' recognition of CIDI depression with a recognition rate of 0.43. The best combination of indicators increased the recognition rate to 0.69. All indications except the specific diagnostic codes for 'depressive disorder' and 'depressive feelings' were included in this definition.

LIMITATIONS

Potential bias due to the selection of participating GPs might have influenced our recognition rates.

CONCLUSION

GPs are aware of mental health problems in most depressed patients, but labeling with specific diagnostic codes is weak. Researchers should consider that diagnostic coding alone is not an accurate measure of the diagnostic ability of depression and strongly underestimates the accuracy of the GP.

Suffering in silence: reasons for not disclosing depression in primary care

PURPOSE

Depression symptoms are underreported by patients. We thus assessed individuals' reasons for not disclosing depression to their primary care physician.

METHODS

We conducted a follow-up telephone survey of 1,054 adults who had participated in the California Behavioral Risk Factor Survey System. Respondents were asked about reasons for nondisclosure of depressive symptoms to their primary care physician, depression-related beliefs, and demographic characteristics. Descriptive and inferential statistical procedures were used to characterize perceived obstacles to disclosure.

RESULTS

Of the respondents, 43% reported 1 or more reasons for nondisclosure. The most frequent reason was the concern that the physician would recommend antidepressants (22.9%; 95% confidence interval, 18.8%-27.5%). Reported reasons for nondisclosure of depression varied based on whether the respondent had a history of depression. For example, respondents with no depression history were more likely to believe that depression falls outside the purview of primary care (P=.040) and more likely to fret about being referred to a psychiatrist (P=.036). Respondents with clinically significant depressive symptoms rated 10 of 11 barriers to disclosure as more personally applicable than did those without symptoms (all P values =.014). Number of reported disclosure barriers was predicted by demographic characteristics (being female, Hispanic, of low socioeconomic status), depression beliefs (depression is stigmatizing and should be under one's control), symptom severity, and absence of a family history of depression.

CONCLUSIONS

Many adults subscribe to beliefs likely to inhibit explicit requests for help from their primary care physician during a depressive episode. Interventions should be developed to encourage patients to disclose their depression symptoms and physicians to ask about depression.

The role of daily mobility in mental health inequalities: the interactive influence of activity space and neighbourhood of residence on depression

The literature reports an association between neighbourhood deprivation and individual depression after adjustment for individual factors. The present paper investigates whether vulnerability to neighbourhood features is influenced by individual "activity space" (i.e., the space within which people move about or travel in the course of their daily activities). It can be assumed that a deprived residential environment can exert a stronger influence on the mental health of people whose activity space is limited to their neighbourhood of residence, since their exposure to their neighbourhood would be greater. Moreover, we studied the relationship between activity space size and depression. A limited activity space could indeed reflect spatial and social confinement and thus be associated with a higher risk of being depressed, or, conversely, it could be linked to a deep attachment to the neighbourhood of residence and thus be associated with a lower risk of being depressed. Multilevel logistic regression analyses of a representative sample consisting of 3011 inhabitants surveyed in 2005 in the Paris, France metropolitan area and nested within 50 census blocks showed, after adjusting for individual-level variables, that people living in deprived neighbourhoods were significantly more depressed that those living in more advantaged neighbourhoods. We also observed a statistically significant cross-level interaction between activity space and neighbourhood deprivation, as they relate to depression. Living in a deprived neighbourhood had a stronger and statistically significant effect on depression in people whose activity space was limited to their neighbourhood than in those whose daily travels extended beyond it. In addition, a limited activity space appeared to be a protective factor with regard to depression for people living in advantaged neighbourhoods and a risk factor for those living in deprived neighbourhoods. It could therefore be useful to take activity space into consideration more often when studying the social and spatial determinants of depression.

Improving the management of late-life depression in primary care: barriers and facilitators

The objectives of this study were to elicit Canadian health professionals' views on the barriers to identifying and treating late-life depression in primary care settings and on the solutions felt to be most important and feasible to implement. A consensus development process was used to generate, rank, and discuss solutions. Twenty-three health professionals participated in the consensus process. Results were analysed using quantitative and qualitative methods. Participants generated 12 solutions. One solution, developing mechanisms to increase family physicians' awareness of resources, was highly ranked for importance and feasibility by most participants. Another solution, providing family physicians with direct mental health support, was highly ranked as important but not as feasible by most participants. Deliberations emphasized the importance of case specific, as needed support based on the principles of shared care. The results suggest that practitioners highly value collaborative care but question the feasibility of implementing these principles in current Canadian primary care contexts.

Recruitment into a guided internet based CBT (iCBT) intervention for depression: lesson learnt from the failure of a prevalence recruitment strategy

INTRODUCTION

Internet based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (iCBT) represents a significant development in the way psychological interventions are delivered. Studies tend to recruit via common media channels leading to criticisms of biased sample sizes and limited generalisability to primary care settings.

AIM

To evaluate the use of a prevalence recruitment strategy within primary care to recruit into an RCT examining a free to use iCBT intervention.

METHODS

Fully randomised controlled trial (RCT), utilising a prevalence based recruitment strategy, comparing the iCBT intervention with telephone support provided by NHS Direct Health Advisors with treatment-as-usual (TAU) control.

RESULTS

Recruitment rates were low with only 7 participants recruited over 8 months. Overall only 14% of expected study invitations were sent, with only 1% undertaking the consent and initial screening process.

DISCUSSION

Key differences with successful prevalence recruitment strategies highlight four main issues to consider when recruiting participants from primary care into iCBT studies--lack of equipoise, a need for an assertive approach, coding of depression in GP databases and help seeking behaviour in depression which can all act as potential contributors to failure to recruit. However other non-primary care recruitment methods, such as the use of media channels, which are already shown to be effective in non-primary care settings should be considered if these methods more accurately target the population who would be willing to adopt iCBT more generally.

Recognition and subsequent treatment of patients with sub-threshold symptoms of depression in primary care

BACKGROUND

Non-psychiatric physicians are better at correctly ruling out depressive disorders than appropriately recognising them. However, given large numbers of non-depressed patients, a small percentage of false positives equates to a greater number of patients than the number of depressed patients that GPs fail to detect. Concern thus arises that substantial numbers of patients with falsely identified depression may receive inappropriate interventions.

METHODS

Unselected GP consulters were screened with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). GPs' perceptions of depression were independently rated on an ICD-10 scale. Case records were reviewed. Analysis related to participants with HADS-D<8. Data were assessed of 660 participants with sub-threshold symptoms. Factors were assessed according to GP ratings.

RESULTS

GP perceived depression in false positive cases were more likely at index visit, to have a mental health presenting problem (OR=6.74 (95% CI=3.21, 14.16); receive antidepressant prescriptions (OR 3.79 (95% CI=1.69, 8.49) and have greater severity of HADS-D score (OR 1.18 (95% CI=1.01, 1.38). Subthreshold cases that GPs identified as depressed, more often had a recording, over subsequent six months, of: depressive symptoms (16 (35%) versus 26 (7%), p<0.001); antidepressant prescriptions (11 (24%) versus 25 (7%), p=0.001); and Community Mental Health Team referrals (4 (9%) versus 1 (<1%), p=0.001). They also consulted GPs more frequently than those not identified (median=5 (IQR 2.8, 6.3) versus median=3 (IQR=2, 5), p=0.004 over six months.

LIMITATIONS

The HADS is not a diagnostic tool.

CONCLUSIONS

GPs' diagnoses of depressive disorder in patients with sub-threshold symptoms were appropriate. Interventions offered to this group were consistent with documented previous histories.

Talking about depression: a qualitative study of barriers to managing depression in people with long term conditions in primary care

BACKGROUND

The risk of depression is increased in people with long term conditions (LTCs) and is associated with poorer patient outcomes for both the depressive illness and the LTC, but often remains undetected and poorly managed. The aim of this study was to identify and explore barriers to detecting and managing depression in primary care in people with two exemplar LTCs: diabetes and coronary heart disease (CHD).

METHODS

Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted with 19 healthcare professionals drawn predominately from primary care, along with 7 service users and 3 carers (n = 29). One focus group was then held with a set of 6 healthcare professionals and a set of 7 service users and 1 carer (n = 14). Interviews and the focus group were digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed independently. The two data sets were then inspected for commonalities using a constant comparative method, leading to a final thematic framework used in this paper.

RESULTS

Barriers to detecting and managing depression in people with LTCs in primary care exist: i) when practitioners in partnership with patients conceptualise depression as a common and understandable response to the losses associated with LTCs - depression in the presence of LTCs is normalised, militating against its recognition and treatment; ii) where highly performanced managed consultations under the terms of the Quality and Outcomes Framework encourage reductionist approaches to case-finding in people with CHD and diabetes, and iii) where there is uncertainty among practitioners about how to negotiate labels for depression in people with LTCs in ways that might facilitate shared understanding and future management.

CONCLUSION

Depression was often normalised in the presence of LTCs, obviating rather than facilitating further assessment and management. Furthermore, structural constraints imposed by the QOF encouraged reductionist approaches to case-finding for depression in consultations for CHD and diabetes. Future work might focus on how interventions that draw on the principles of the chronic care model, such as collaborative care, could support primary care practitioners to better recognise and manage depression in patients with LTCs.

Identification of antenatal depression in obstetric care

PURPOSE

Detection rates of depression in obstetric care are generally low, and many women remain undiagnosed and do not receive adequate support. In many obstetric settings, screening tools for depression are not applied routinely and there is a great need to sensitize health care professionals for the patient at risk for enhanced levels of depression. The present study aimed at identifying commonly assessed patient characteristics that are associated with antenatal depression.

METHODS

One hundred and thirty seven women were screened using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at the beginning of the second trimester at the outpatient department of a Tertiary University Hospital. Women were identified as at high risk for depression if scores were above a cut-off score of twelve. Obstetric history and outcome were extracted from patient files after delivery.

RESULTS

Twenty one percent of the sample screened as depression positive. Logistic regression with backwards elimination showed that the triad of nausea during pregnancy, reports of (premature) contractions and consumption of analgesics during pregnancy significantly predicted high depression scores with a positive predictive value of 84.3%. The relative risk for a depressed pregnant woman to regularly take analgesics during pregnancy was fourfold higher than for non-depressed women.

CONCLUSIONS

If depression screening is not part of routine prenatal care, systematic assessment of depression should be targeted for patients presenting with the markers identified in this study.

Development and preliminary validation of the PC-SAD5, a screener-derived short depression severity measure

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of depressive disorders is high among patients with skin disease. The PC-SAD is a 37-item self-administered depression screening questionnaire that has been validated in dermatological patients.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to develop and validate a brief depression severity instrument derived from the PC-SAD that can be used to assess severity and monitor ongoing clinical course.

METHODS

Two patient samples participated in the study: 72 adult dermatological inpatients and 73 adults attending six primary care practices. Psychiatric assessment included the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV and an 18-item version of the PC-SAD; moreover, dermatological patients completed the Patient Health Questionnaire depression scale (PHQ-9), while primary care patients were administered the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS). A subset of five PC-SAD items showing the best psychometric properties were selected, and the reliability and validity of the resulting instrument (PC-SAD5) were examined.

RESULTS

The PC-SAD5 showed satisfactory internal consistency in both samples. There was a high correlation between PC-SAD5 and PHQ-9 and MADRS scores. Multiple regression analysis revealed a gradient of PC-SAD5 scores from patients with no mental disorder, those with milder forms of depression, to those with Major Depressive Disorder. Similar results were observed for the 18-item version of the PC-SAD.

CONCLUSION

The availability of valid and reliable continuous measures of depression severity derived from the PC-SAD extends its field of application from depression screening to use as a follow-up measure of depression severity in routine clinical practice. A validated very short instrument such as the PC-SAD5 may have substantial clinical value.

Which version of the geriatric depression scale is most useful in medical settings and nursing homes? Diagnostic validity meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) has been evaluated in individual studies, but its validity and added value in medical settings and nursing homes is uncertain. Therefore, the authors conducted a meta-analysis, analyzing the diagnostic accuracy of long, short, and ultrashort versions of the GDS and stratified this into those with and without cognitive impairment.

METHODS

A comprehensive search identified 69 studies that measured the diagnostic validity of the GDS against a semistructured psychiatric interview, and of these, 43 analyses (in 36 publications) took place inmedical settings. Twenty-one studies examined the GDS₃₀, 12 studies examined the GDS₁₅, and 3 examined the GDS₄(/)₅. For comparison, the authors also summarized studies examining unassisted clinical judgment. Heterogeneity was moderate to high; therefore, random effects meta-analysis was used.

RESULTS

Across all studies, the prevalence of late-life depression was 29.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 24.7%–33.9%), with no difference between inpatients, outpatients, and nursing homes. Diagnostic accuracy of the GDS₃₀ aftermeta-analytic weighting was given by a sensitivity of 81.9% (95% CI = 76.4%–86.9%) and a specificity of 77.7% (95% CI = 73.0%–82.1%). For the GDS₁₅, sensitivity was 84.3% (95% CI = 79.7%–88.4%) and specificity was 73.8% (95% CI = 68.0%–79.2%). For the GDS₄(/)₅, the sensitivity and specificity were 92.5% (95% CI = 85.5%–97.4%) and 77.2% (95% CI = 66.6%–86.3%), respectively. Results were not significantly influenced by the presence of dementia. Concerning added value, when identification using the GDS was compared with routine clinicians’ ability to diagnose late-life depressions, at a prevalence of 30%, of every 100 attendees, the GDS₃₀ would help correctly identify an additional 22 people as depressed but at a cost of 13 additional false positives. The GDS₁₅ performed the same as GDS₃₀ but with 15 false positives. The ultrashort form would help identify an additional 25 true positives with only 10 false positives. Thus, the best option when choosing between versions of the GDS seems to be the GDS₄(/)₅.

CONCLUSION

All versions of the GDS yield potential added value in medical settings, but the GDS₄(/)₅ is the most efficient. In nursing homes, given an absence of data on the GDS₄(/)₅, the GDS₁₅ may be preferred until more studies are reported.

A study of the diagnostic accuracy of the PHQ-9 in primary care elderly

Background

The diagnostic accuracy of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for assessment of depression in elderly persons in primary care settings in the United States has not been previously addressed. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the test performance of the PHQ-9 for detecting major and minor depression in elderly patients in primary care.

Methods

A prospective study of diagnostic accuracy was conducted in two primary care, university-based clinics in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Seventy-one patients aged 65 years or older participated; all completed the PHQ-9 and the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and underwent the Structured Clinical Interview for Depression (SCID). Sensitivity, specificity, area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and likelihood ratios (LRs) were calculated for the PHQ-9, the PHQ-2, and the 15-item GDS for major depression alone and the combination of major plus minor depression.

Results

Two thirds of participants were female, with a mean age of 78 and two chronic health conditions. Twelve percent met SCID criteria for major depression and 13% minor depression. The PHQ-9 had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.87 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.74-1.00) for major depression, while the PHQ-2 and the 15-item GDS each had an AUC of 0.81 (95% CI for PHQ-2, 0.64-0.98, and for 15-item GDS, 0.70-0.91; P = 0.551). For major and minor depression combined, the AUC for the PHQ-9 was 0.85 (95% CI, 0.73-0.96), for the PHQ-2, 0.80 (95% CI, 0.68-0.93), and for the 15-item GDS, 0.71 (95% CI, 0.55-0.87; P = 0.187).

Conclusions

Based on AUC values, the PHQ-9 performs comparably to the PHQ-2 and the 15-item GDS in identifying depression among primary care elderly.

Identification of patient-reported distress by clinical nurse specialists in routine oncology practice: a multicentre UK study

BACKGROUND

There is uncertainty regarding how well clinical nurse specialists are able to identify distress in cancer settings.

METHODS

We examined recognition of patient-reported distress by nurse specialists across three sites in the East Midlands (UK). Clinicians were asked to report on their clinical opinion regarding the presence of distress or any mental health complication after routine assessment of 401 mixed cancer patients. Patient-reported distress was defined by the distress thermometer at a cut-off of 4 or higher.

RESULTS

We found that the prevalence of patient-reported distress was 45.4%. The rates for mild, moderate and severe distress were: 23.4, 13.7 and 8.2, respectively. When looking for distress (or any mental health complication) nurse practitioners had a detection sensitivity of 50.5% and specificity 80.0%. Cohen's kappa suggested fair agreement between staff and patients. Examining predictors of distress, clinicians were better able to recognise higher severities of distress (adjusted R(2) =0.87 P=0.001). There was lower sensitivity in palliative stages but no differences according to the type of cancer. There was also higher sensitivity but lower specificity in those clinicians with high self-rated confidence.

CONCLUSIONS

Nurses working in cancer settings have difficulty identifying distress using their routine clinical judgement and tend to make more false-negative than false-positive errors. Evidence-based strategies that improve detection of mild and moderate distress are required in routine cancer care.

Ability of nurses to identify depression in primary care, secondary care and nursing homes--a meta-analysis of routine clinical accuracy

PURPOSE

To clarify the ability of nurses and nursing assistants working in primary care, secondary care and nursing homes to identify depressed individuals using their clinical skills using meta-analysis of published studies.

METHODS

Literature search, appraisal and meta-analysis. We located 22 studies reporting on the detection of depression, 4 involving primary care or community nurses; 7 involving hospital nurses and 11 from nursing homes.17 of 22 studies had specificity data.

RESULTS

Across all 22 studies involving 7061 individuals, and a prevalence of 28.1% (95% CI=22.6-33.9%), practice and community nurses correctly identified 26.3% (95% CI=16.2-37.8%) of people with depression. They also correctly identified 94.8% (95% CI=91.3-97.4%) of the non-depressed. Nurses working in hospital settings correctly identified 43.1% (95% CI=31.9-54.8%) of people with depression and 79.6% (95% CI=71.5-86.7%) of the non-depressed. Those working in nursing homes correctly identified 45.8% (95% CI=38.1-53.6%) of people with depression and 80.0% (95% CI=68.6-88.7%) of the non-depressed.

CONCLUSIONS

Nurses have considerable difficulty accurately identifying depression but are probably at least as accurate as medical staff.

The association between depression and diabetes in the perinatal period

Both depression and diabetes are common in the perinatal period and result in serious consequences for mother and fetus. Although the association between depression and diabetes is well established, few studies have examined the association between these disorders during the perinatal period, when the etiology of depression and diabetes may differ from other periods over the life course. This article reviews the four most relevant epidemiologic papers that examined the association between depression and diabetes in the perinatal period and makes recommendations for future studies about how best to examine the association between these disorders during the perinatal period.

Evolving refractory major depressive disorder diagnostic and treatment paradigms: toward closed-loop therapeutics

Current antidepressant therapies do not effectively control or cure depressive symptoms. Pharmaceutical therapies altogether fail to address an estimated 4 million Americans who suffer from a recurrent and severe treatment-resistant form of depression known as refractory major depressive disorder. Subjective diagnostic schemes, differing manifestations of the disorder, and antidepressant treatments with limited theoretical bases each contribute to the general lack of therapeutic efficacy and differing levels of treatment resistance in the refractory population. Stimulation-based therapies, such as vagus nerve stimulation, transcranial magnetic stimulation, and deep brain stimulation, are promising treatment alternatives for this treatment-resistant subset of patients, but are plagued with inconsistent reports of efficacy and variable side effects. Many of these problems stem from the unknown mechanisms of depressive disorder pathogenesis, which prevents the development of treatments that target the specific underlying causes of the disorder. Other problems likely arise due to the non-specific stimulation of various limbic and paralimbic structures in an open-loop configuration. This review critically assesses current literature on depressive disorder diagnostic methodologies, treatment schemes, and pathogenesis in order to emphasize the need for more stringent depressive disorder classifications, quantifiable biological markers that are suitable for objective diagnoses, and alternative closed-loop treatment options tailored to well-defined forms of the disorder. A closed-loop neurostimulation device design framework is proposed, utilizing symptom-linked biomarker abnormalities as control points for initiating and terminating a corrective electrical stimulus which is autonomously optimized for correcting the magnitude and direction of observed biomarker abnormality.

Is major depression adequately diagnosed and treated by general practitioners? Results from an epidemiological study

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to (1) to explore the validity of the depression diagnosis made by the general practitioner (GP) and factors associated with it, (2) to estimate rates of treatment adequacy for depression and factors associated with it and (3) to study how rates of treatment adequacy vary when using different assessment methods and criteria.

METHODS

Epidemiological survey carried out in 77 primary care centres representative of Catalonia. A total of 3815 patients were assessed.

RESULTS

GPs identified 69 out of the 339 individuals who were diagnosed with a major depressive episode according to the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (SCID-I) (sensitivity 0.22; kappa value: 0.16). The presence of emotional problems as the patients' primary complaint was associated with an increased probability of recognition. Rates of adequacy differed according to criteria: in the cases detected with the SCID-I interview, adequacy was 39.35% when using only patient self-reported data and 54.91% when taking into account data from the clinical chart. Rates of adequacy were higher when assessing adequacy among those considered depressed by the GP.

CONCLUSION

GPs adequately treat most of those whom they consider to be depressed. However, they fail to recognise depressed patients when compared to a psychiatric gold standard. Rates of treatment adequacy varied widely depending on the method used to assess them.

Utility of the twelve-item World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule II (WHO-DAS II) for discriminating depression "caseness" and severity in Spanish primary care patients

PURPOSE

The 12-item WHO-DAS II was developed to assess the activity limitations and participation restrictions experienced by individuals irrespective of medical diagnosis. In this paper we examine the known-groups' validity of the instrument by evaluating its ability to discriminate between patients with/without major depression, patients with depression with/without medical comorbidity, and patients with depression with different depression severity.

METHOD

The participants were 3,615 PC patients from 17 regions of Spain, with a first-time diagnosis of major depressive episode according to the general practitioner. The 12-item WHO-DAS II, the PHQ-9, and a chronic medical conditions checklist were administered during the consultation.

RESULTS

The statistical analyses indicated that the 12-item WHO-DAS II was able to discriminate between patients with/without depression and between those with different depression severity. The ROC analysis revealed that with a cutoff score >or=50, the instrument correctly classified 70.4% of the sample (area under the ROC curve = .76; sensitivity = 71.4%; specificity = 67.6%).

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, our results support the discriminant validity of the 12-item WHO-DAS II for major depression, being quite recommendable its use in epidemiological research.

Recent trends in the incidence of recorded depression in primary care

BACKGROUND

There is a paucity of data describing how general practitioners (GPs) label or record depression.

AIMS

To determine incidence and sociodemographic variation in GP-recorded depression diagnoses and depressive symptoms.

METHOD

Annual incidence rates calculated using data from 298 UK general practices between 1996 and 2006, adjusted for year of diagnosis, gender, age and deprivation.

RESULTS

Incidence of diagnosed depression fell from 22.5 to 14.0 per 1000 person-years at risk (PYAR) from 1996 to 2006. The incidence of depressive symptoms rose threefold from 5.1 to 15.5 per 1000 PYAR. Combined incidence of diagnoses and symptoms remained stable. Diagnosed depression and symptoms were more common in women and in more deprived areas.

CONCLUSIONS

Depression recorded by general practitioners has lower incidence rates than depression recorded in epidemiological studies, although there are similar associations with gender and deprivation. General practitioners increasingly use symptoms rather than diagnostic labels to categorize people's illnesses. Studies using standardised diagnostic instruments may not be easily comparable with clinical practice.

Appropriateness of antidepressant prescribing: an observational study in a Scottish primary-care setting

BACKGROUND

Since the 1990s, Scottish community-based antidepressant prescribing has increased substantially.

AIM

To assess whether GPs prescribe antidepressants appropriately.

DESIGN OF STUDY

Observational study of adults (aged >/=16 years) screened with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) attending a GP.

SETTING

Four practices in Grampian, Scotland.

METHOD

Patients (n = 898) completed the HADS, and GPs independently estimated depression status. Notes were scrutinised for evidence of antidepressant use, and the appropriateness of prescribing was assessed.

RESULTS

A total of 237 (26%) participants had HADS scores indicating 'possible' (15%) or 'probable' (11%) depression. The proportion of participants rated as depressed by their GP differed significantly by HADS depression subscale scores. Odds ratio for 'possible' versus 'no' depression was 3.54 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.17 to 5.76, P<0.001); and for 'probable' versus 'possible' depression was 3.59 (95% CI = 2.06 to 6.26, P<0.001). Similarly, the proportion of participants receiving antidepressants differed significantly by HADS score. Odds ratio for 'possible' versus 'no' depression was 2.79 (95% CI = 1.70 to 4.58, P<0.001); and for 'probable' versus 'possible' was 2.12 (95% CI = 1.21 to 3.70, P = 0.009). In 101 participants with 'probable' depression, GPs recognised 53 (52%) participants as having a clinically significant depression. Inappropriate initiation of antidepressant treatment occurred very infrequently. Prescribing to participants who were not symptomatic was accounted for by the treatment of pain, anxiety, or relapse prevention, and for ongoing treatment of previously identified depression.

CONCLUSION

There was little evidence of prescribing without relevant indication. Around half of patients with significant symptoms were not identified by their GP as suffering from a depressive disorder: this varied inversely with severity ratings. Rather than prescribing indiscriminately (as has been widely assumed), it is likely that GPs are initiating antidepressant treatment conservatively.

Canadian Network for Mood and Anxiety Treatments (CANMAT) clinical guidelines for the management of major depressive disorder in adults. I. Classification, burden and principles of management

BACKGROUND

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most burdensome illnesses in Canada. The purpose of this introductory section of the 2009 revised CANMAT guidelines is to provide definitions of the depressive disorders (with an emphasis on MDD), summarize Canadian data concerning their epidemiology and describe overarching principles of managing these conditions. This section on "Classification, Burden and Principles of Management" is one of 5 guideline articles in the 2009 CANMAT guidelines.

METHODS

The CANMAT guidelines are based on a question-answer format to enhance accessibility to clinicians. An evidence-based format was used with updated systematic reviews of the literature and recommendations were graded according to the Level of Evidence using pre-defined criteria. Lines of Treatment were identified based on criteria that included evidence and expert clinical support.

RESULTS

Epidemiologic data indicate that MDD afflicts 11% of Canadians at some time in their lives, and approximately 4% during any given year. MDD has a detrimental impact on overall health, role functioning and quality of life. Detection of MDD, accurate diagnosis and provision of evidence-based treatment are challenging tasks for both clinicians and for the health systems in which they work.

LIMITATIONS

Epidemiologic and clinical data cannot be seamlessly linked due to heterogeneity of syndromes within the population.

CONCLUSIONS

In the eight years since the last CANMAT Guidelines for Treatment of Depressive Disorders were published, progress has been made in understanding the epidemiology and treatment of these disorders. Evidence supporting specific therapeutic interventions is summarized and evaluated in subsequent sections.

Clinical diagnosis of depression in primary care: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Depression is a major burden for the health-care system worldwide. Most care for depression is delivered by general practitioners (GPs). We assessed the rate of true positives and negatives, and false positives and negatives in primary care when GPs make routine diagnoses of depression.

METHODS

We undertook a meta-analysis of 118 studies that assessed the accuracy of unassisted diagnoses of depression by GPs. 41 of these studies were included because they had a robust outcome standard of a structured or semi-structured interview.

FINDINGS

50 371 patients were pooled across 41 studies and examined. GPs correctly identified depression in 47.3% (95% CI 41.7% to 53.0%) of cases and recorded depression in their notes in 33.6% (22.4% to 45.7%). 19 studies assessed both rule-in and rule-out accuracy; from these studies, the weighted sensitivity was 50.1% (41.3% to 59.0%) and specificity was 81.3% (74.5% to 87.3%). At a rate of 21.9%, the positive predictive value was 42.0% (39.6% to 44.3%) and the negative predictive value was 85.8% (84.8% to 86.7%). This finding suggests that for every 100 unselected cases seen in primary care, there are more false positives (n=15) than either missed (n=10) or identified cases (n=10). Accuracy was improved with prospective examination over an extended period (3-12 months) rather than relying on a one-off assessment or case-note records.

INTERPRETATION

GPs can rule out depression in most people who are not depressed; however, the modest prevalence of depression in primary care means that misidentifications outnumber missed cases. Diagnosis could be improved by re-assessment of individuals who might have depression.

FUNDING

None.