General practitioners' views towards diagnosing and treating depression in five southeastern European countries

• DOI: 10.1111/eip.12747
• Publication Date: 2018-10-02T09:11:50Z
• Authors: Predrag Duric; Sanja Harhaji; Fiona O'May; Larisa Boderscova; Jana Chihai; Ariel Como; Georgi L. Hranov; Adriana Mihai; Eugjen Sotiri
• Keywords: Depression; Mental health care

Aim To assess and compare general practitioners' (GPs’) views of diagnosing treating depression in five southeastern European countries. Methods A cross‐sectional study was conducted Albania, Bulgaria, Moldova, Romania, Serbia. The sample included 467 GPs who completed a hard‐copy self‐administered questionnaire, consisting self‐assessment questions related to depression. Results most common barriers managing practice reported by were: patients’ unwillingness discuss depressive symptoms (92.3%); appointment time too short take an adequate history (91.9%), for prescribing appropriate treatment (90.6%); patients' reluctance be referred psychiatrist (89.1%). Most (78.4%) agreed that recognizing their responsibility, 71.7% were confident depression, but less than one‐third (29.6%) considered they should treat it. Conclusions Improvements the organization mental healthcare all countries consider better training diagnosis treatment; availability specialists at primary care level, with ensured equal easy access patients; removal potential legal