Centre for Policy on Ageing



The recognition and treatment of depression in older people in primary care
Author(s)	M J Crawford, M Prince, P Menezes
Journal title	International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, vol 13, no 3, March 1998
Pages	pp 172-176
Keywords	Depression ; Diagnosis ; Therapeutics ; General practice ; Evaluation ; Social surveys ; Camden.
Annotation	This cross-sectional study of elderly residents in the Gospel Oak area of Camden, north London compared the GP's clinical opinion with assessment of mental state using a validated interview schedule (the Short Comprehensive Assessment and Referral Evaluation, or Short-CARE). The study found that GPs were aware of depression in 36 (51%) of 70 depressed patients. Those least likely to be recognised were men, the married, those with high levels of physical handicap, those suffering from visual impairment, and the least well educated. Of the 32 believed to be depressed, 12 (38%) were prescribed antidepressant medications and/or referred to mental health of social services. Levels of recognition of depression were lower that other recent reports. These findings may reflect the continued debate about the most suitable management of older depressed people in primary care, and stress the need for further evaluation of appropriate treatment strategies for this group.
Accession Number	CPA-980428004 A
Classmark	ENR: LK7: LL: L5: 4C: 3F: 82L8
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...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing.