THE USE OF ANTIDEPRESSANT DRUGS IN GENERAL-PRACTICE - A QUESTIONNAIRESURVEY

The aim of this study was to examine the antidepressant drug prescribi ng preferences and habits of a population of general practitioners. Th e method used was that of a questionnaire survey, including case vigne ttes. The response rate exceeded 70 % Data are presented outlining the attitudes of the respondents to the use of antidepressant drugs in th e management of common psychiatric presentations in the primary care s etting. The majority of general practitioners (G.P.'s) had received li ttle or no post-graduate education in psychiatry. The antidepressants most frequently prescribed were amitriptyline, clomipramine, trazodone and lofepramine. Despite recognition of the alarming frequency of ser ious self-poisoning incidents with some of these compounds, 26 % of re spondents confessed to an inability to make an informed choice of anti depressant drug, with 14 % using the same drug with every patient with no attempt to select according to individual patient requirements. Th e management of depressive neurosis generates considerable clinical co nfusion with a variety of interventions favoured. The use of a sedatin g antidepressant is popular. There is greater accord for the managemen t of endogenomorphic depression. The use of the benzodiazepine drugs i n the management of anxiety disorders is infrequent, with appropriate recognition of the merits of behavioural approaches. However, the role for antidepressant drugs in the management of anxiety disorders is un der-recognized. We conclude that general practitioners are required to undertake a significant body of work for which they may be inadequate ly trained.