ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION IN GENERAL-PRACTICE PATIENTS - PREVALENCE AND MANAGEMENT

Objective: To determine the prevalence of anxiety and depression in ge neral practice patients and assess management of these conditions by g eneral practitioners (GPs). Methods: A random sample of 212 GPs were a pproached to be interviewed and to conduct a patient survey and audit on 50 consecutive patient consultations during 1993. Participants: 117 GPs (55% response rate) and 4867 patients (85%) who completed questio nnaires suitable for analysis. Setting: General practices in two areas (divisions of general practice) in Sydney, New South Wales. Results: Thirty-six per cent of patients had abnormal scores on a General Healt h Questionnaire (GHQ-12); they were more likely to be women or to be u nemployed, Twenty per cent of these patients had been treated for depr ession or anxiety in the previous 12 months; 52% were prescribed drug therapy, and were more likely to be older, male or unemployed, Seventy per cent of patients reported having been offered therapy by their GP that did not involve drugs, Twenty-four per cent had been referred to another health professional; they were more likely to be younger, or men, or patients attending their usual doctor. Conclusions: A brief sc reening instrument may improve GPs' detection rate of patients with an xiety or depression, The high prevalence of these conditions in unempl oyed people deserves particular attention by GPs, Both drug and non-dr ug therapies are being more appropriately applied in general practice than previously.