Public belief systems about the helpfulness of interventions for depression: associations with history of depression and professional help-seeking

Background: Previous research has found that there are major differences be tween public and professional beliefs about the helpfulness of intervention s for depression. The public appear to be guided by general belief systems about the helpfulness of medical, psychological and lifestyle interventions rather than by specific knowledge about what interventions are effective f or depression. The present paper examines the effect that experiencing depr ession and receiving treatment might have on these beliefs. Method: The stu dy involved a postal survey of 3109 adults from a region of New South Wales , Australia. Respondents were presented with a vignette describing a person with depression. They were asked to rate the likely helpfulness of various types of professional and non-professional help and of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions for the person described in the vignette . Respondents also completed the Goldberg Depression Scale and were asked w hether they had ever had an episode of depression and whether they had seen a counsellor or a doctor for it at the time. Structural equation modelling was used to investigate the associations of history of depression and prof essional help-seeking with belief systems. Results: A three-factor model wa s found to fit the helpfulness ratings, with factors reflecting beliefs in medical, psychological and lifestyle interventions. People who had sought h elp for depression were less likely to believe in the helpfulness of lifest yle interventions and more likely to believe in medical interventions. As w ell as these general associations with belief systems, having sought help f or depression had a number of specific associations with beliefs. Controlli ng for general belief systems, those who had sought help were more likely t o rate antidepressants, holidays, massage and new recreational pursuits as helpful, and were less likely to rate ECT and family as helpful. Those who had a history of depression but had not sought help were more likely to rat e counselling as helpful? and less likely to rate family as helpful. Those with current depressive symptoms were less likely to rate telephone counsel ling, family and friends as helpful. Conclusion: Having sought help for dep ression is associated with general belief systems about the helpfulness of lifestyle and medical interventions and also has some associations with spe cific beliefs that may reflect experiences with treatment (e.g. the helpful ness of antidepressants). Those currently depressed or with a history of de pression are less likely to regard family as helpful, possibly due to poore r social support. Generally speaking, having sought help is associated with beliefs closer to those of professionals.