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BMC Primary Care
Published in: BMC Primary Care 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research article

Factors contributing to the recognition of anxiety and depression in general practice

Authors: Henny Sinnema, Berend Terluin, Daniëlle Volker, Michel Wensing, Anton van Balkom

Published in: BMC Primary Care | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

Adequate recognition of anxiety and depression by general practitioners (GPs) can be improved. Research on factors that are associated with recognition is limited and shows mixed results. The aim of this study was to explore which patient and GP characteristics are associated with recognition of anxiety and depression.

Methods

We performed a secondary analysis on data from 444 patients who were recruited for a randomized trial. Recognition of anxiety and depression was defined in terms of information in the medical records, in patients who screened positive on the extended Kessler 10 (EK-10). A total of 10 patient and GP characteristics, measured at baseline, were tested and included in a multilevel regression model to examine their impact on recognition.

Results

Patients who reported a perceived need for psychological care (OR = 2.54, 95% CI 1.60–4.03) and those with higher 4DSQ distress scores (OR = 1.03; 95% CI 1.00–1.07) were more likely to be recognized. In addition, patients’ anxiety or depression was less likely to be recognized when GPs were less confident in their abilities to identify depression (OR = 0.97; 95% CI 0.95–0.99). Patients’ age, chronic medical condition, somatisation, severity of anxiety and depression, and functional status were not associated with the recognition of anxiety and depression.

Conclusions

There is room for improvement of the recognition of anxiety and depression. Quality improvement activities that focus on increasing GPs’ confidence in the ability to identify symptoms of distress, anxiety and depression, as part of care according to guidelines, may improve recognition.
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Metadata
Title
Factors contributing to the recognition of anxiety and depression in general practice
Authors
Henny Sinnema
Berend Terluin
Daniëlle Volker
Michel Wensing
Anton van Balkom
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Primary Care / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 2731-4553
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-018-0784-8

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