AIM

To describe the attitudes of General Practitioners (GPs) towards depression in Primary Health Care Centres.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study based on the application of a standard questionnaire.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

A total of 112 GPs from all of the 20 Primary Health Care Centres in the Tarragona-Reus Primary Care Area (Catalan Health Institute).

MEASUREMENTS

A Spanish adaptation of Depression Attitudes Questionnaire was used.

RESULTS

A total of 88.4% of doctors agreed there was an increase in the number of depressive patients in recent years. Around half of the GPs thought that depression in Primary Health Care Centres are due to the adversities of life, but 72.3% considers that there is a biological root in severe depressions. A large majority (81.2%) of doctors believed that antidepressants used in Primary Care are efficient and the majority values psychotherapy as a useful therapeutic option. There is an agreement in the role of nursing staff when attending depressed patients. The role of psychiatric referral when a satisfactory result is not obtained in Primary Care is recognised. Although 64.3% of doctors consider that dealing with depressed patients is hard work, but 57.1% feel comfortable and only 19.7% think it is an unpleasant job.

CONCLUSIONS

In general, there is a favourable predisposition to deal with depression in Primary Care where training and organisational initiatives can be introduced to improve clinical outcomes of depression in Primary Care.