TREATMENT OF DEPRESSION BY OBSTETRICIAN-GYNECOLOGISTS - A SURVEY STUDY

Objective: We performed an exploratory survey of depression diagnosis, treatment, and patient referral patterns by Fellows of ACOG. We also examined obstetrician-gynecologists' professional training in the mana gement of clinical depression. Methods: We sent a questionnaire to a t otal of 1370 ACOG Fellows. Sixty percent of the surveys were returned. Results: As a group, obstetrician-gynecologists reported diagnosing a n average of four new cases of depression per month. Within the overal l sample, the number of new diagnoses of depression made each month wa s significantly greater for those defining themselves as primary care physicians than for those defining themselves as specialists. When tre ating depression pharmacologically, obstetrician-gynecologists reporte d that they overwhelmingly (74% of the time) chose selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants. Ninety-five percent of obstetrici an-gynecologists reported that they referred severely depressed patien ts to a mental health professional. A majority of respondents neither received residency training (80%) nor completed a continuing medical e ducation course (60%) on the treatment of clinical depression in women . Conclusion: Obstetrician-gynecologists who describe themselves as pr imary care physicians make significantly more diagnoses of depression than those considering themselves specialists. Studies further to asse ss obstetrician-gynecologists' management of depression and better to define needs for professional education are warranted. (C) 1997 by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.