OBJECTIVES: To report the baseline characteristics of the Diagnosis, Management and Outcomes of Depression in Primary Care (diamond) study cohort and discuss the implications for depression care in general practice. DESIGN: A prospective longitudinal study beginning in January 2005. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Adult patients with depressive symptoms identified via screening with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D > or = 16) in 30 randomly selected Victorian general practices. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Depression status on the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ). RESULTS: 789 patients form the cohort (71% women). At baseline, 47% were married, 21% lived alone, 36% received a pension or benefit, 15% were unable to work, 23% reported hazardous drinking, 32% were smokers, 39% used antidepressants and 19% used sedatives. 27% satisfied criteria for current major depressive syndrome (MDS) on the PHQ, while 52% had "persistent" depressive symptoms, and 22% had "transient" depressive symptoms, lasting at most a few weeks. Of those satisfying criteria for MDS, 49% were also classified with an anxiety syndrome, 40% reported childhood sexual abuse, 57% reported childhood physical abuse, 42% had at some time been afraid of their partner, and 72% reported a chronic physical condition; 84% were receiving mental health care (either taking antidepressants or seeing a health practitioner specifically for mental health care) compared with 66% of those with persistent depressive symptoms and 57% with transient depressive symptoms. CONCLUSION: This method of screening for depressive symptoms in general practice identifies a group of patients with substantial multiple comorbidities -- psychiatric, physical and social problems coexist with depressive symptoms, raising challenges for the management of depression in general practice.
OBJECTIVES: To report the baseline characteristics of the Diagnosis, Management and Outcomes of Depression in Primary Care (diamond) study cohort and discuss the implications for depression care in general practice. DESIGN: A prospective longitudinal study beginning in January 2005. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Adult patients with depressive symptoms identified via screening with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D > or = 16) in 30 randomly selected Victorian general practices. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Depression status on the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ). RESULTS: 789 patients form the cohort (71% women). At baseline, 47% were married, 21% lived alone, 36% received a pension or benefit, 15% were unable to work, 23% reported hazardous drinking, 32% were smokers, 39% used antidepressants and 19% used sedatives. 27% satisfied criteria for current major depressive syndrome (MDS) on the PHQ, while 52% had "persistent" depressive symptoms, and 22% had "transient" depressive symptoms, lasting at most a few weeks. Of those satisfying criteria for MDS, 49% were also classified with an anxiety syndrome, 40% reported childhood sexual abuse, 57% reported childhood physical abuse, 42% had at some time been afraid of their partner, and 72% reported a chronic physical condition; 84% were receiving mental health care (either taking antidepressants or seeing a health practitioner specifically for mental health care) compared with 66% of those with persistent depressive symptoms and 57% with transient depressive symptoms. CONCLUSION: This method of screening for depressive symptoms in general practice identifies a group of patients with substantial multiple comorbidities -- psychiatric, physical and social problems coexist with depressive symptoms, raising challenges for the management of depression in general practice.
Authors: Jane M Gunn; Darshini R Ayton; Konstancja Densley; Julie F Pallant; Patty Chondros; Helen E Herrman; Christopher F Dowrick Journal: Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol Date: 2010-12-25 Impact factor: 4.328
Authors: Victoria Palmer; Jane Gunn; Renata Kokanovic; Frances Griffiths; Bradley Shrimpton; Rosalind Hurworth; Helen Herrman; Caroline Johnson; Kelsey Hegarty; Grant Blashki; Ella Butler; Kate Johnston-Ata'ata; Christopher Dowrick Journal: Fam Pract Date: 2010-04-08 Impact factor: 2.267
Authors: Bhautesh Jani; Annemieke P Bikker; Maria Higgins; Bridie Fitzpatrick; Paul Little; Graham C M Watt; Stewart W Mercer Journal: Br J Gen Pract Date: 2012-08 Impact factor: 5.386
Authors: Kelsey L Hegarty; Jane M Gunn; Lorna J O'Doherty; Angela Taft; Patty Chondros; Gene Feder; Jill Astbury; Stephanie Brown Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2010-01-02 Impact factor: 3.295