Skip to main content

Main menu

  • Home
  • Articles
    • Current
    • Published Ahead of Print
    • Archive
    • Supplemental Issues
    • Collections - French
    • Collections - English
  • Info for
    • Authors & Reviewers
    • Submit a Manuscript
    • Advertisers
    • Careers & Locums
    • Subscribers
    • Permissions
  • About CFP
    • About CFP
    • About the CFPC
    • Editorial Advisory Board
    • Terms of Use
    • Contact Us
  • Feedback
    • Feedback
    • Rapid Responses
    • Most Read
    • Most Cited
    • Email Alerts
  • Blogs
    • Latest Blogs
    • Blog Guidelines
    • Directives pour les blogues
  • Mainpro+ Credits
    • About Mainpro+
    • Member Login
    • Instructions
  • Other Publications
    • http://www.cfpc.ca/Canadianfamilyphysician/
    • https://www.cfpc.ca/Login/
    • Careers and Locums

User menu

  • My alerts

Search

  • Advanced search
The College of Family Physicians of Canada
  • Other Publications
    • http://www.cfpc.ca/Canadianfamilyphysician/
    • https://www.cfpc.ca/Login/
    • Careers and Locums
  • My alerts
The College of Family Physicians of Canada

Advanced Search

  • Home
  • Articles
    • Current
    • Published Ahead of Print
    • Archive
    • Supplemental Issues
    • Collections - French
    • Collections - English
  • Info for
    • Authors & Reviewers
    • Submit a Manuscript
    • Advertisers
    • Careers & Locums
    • Subscribers
    • Permissions
  • About CFP
    • About CFP
    • About the CFPC
    • Editorial Advisory Board
    • Terms of Use
    • Contact Us
  • Feedback
    • Feedback
    • Rapid Responses
    • Most Read
    • Most Cited
    • Email Alerts
  • Blogs
    • Latest Blogs
    • Blog Guidelines
    • Directives pour les blogues
  • Mainpro+ Credits
    • About Mainpro+
    • Member Login
    • Instructions
  • RSS feeds
  • Follow cfp Template on Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
Abstract

Managing depression in primary care: community survey.

Canadian Family Physician July 2006, 52 (7) 878-879;
Kerry A Collins
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Vicky V Wolfe
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Sandra Fisman
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
JoAnne DePace
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Margaret Steele
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • Article
  • eLetters
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF
Loading
  1. Kerry A Collins,
  2. Vicky V Wolfe,
  3. Sandra Fisman,
  4. JoAnne DePace and
  5. Margaret Steele

    Abstract

    OBJECTIVE To investigate family physicians' practice patterns for managing depression and mental health concerns among adolescent and adult patients.

    DESIGN Cross-sectional survey.

    SETTING London, Ont, a mid-sized Canadian city.

    PARTICIPANTS One hundred sixty-three family physicians identified through the London and District Academy of Medicine.

    MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Practice patterns for managing depression, including screening, pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, shared care, and training needs.

    RESULTS Response rate was 63%. Family physicians reported spending a substantial portion of their time during patient visits (26% to 50%) addressing mental health issues, with depression being the most common issue (51% to 75% of patients with mental health issues). About 40% of respondents did routine mental health screening, and 60% screened patients with risk factors for depression. Shared care with mental health professionals was common (care was shared for 26% to 50% of patients). Physicians and patients were moderately satisfied with shared care, but were frustrated by long waiting lists and communication barriers. Most physicians provided psychotherapy to patients in the form of general advice. Differences in practice patterns were observed; physicians treated more adults than adolescents with depression, and they reported greater comfort in treating adults. Although 33% of physicians described using cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), they reported having little training in CBT. Moderate interest was expressed in CBT training, with a preference for a workshop format.

    CONCLUSION Although 40% of family physicians routinely screen patients for mental health issues, depression is often not detected. Satisfaction with shared care can be increased through better communication with mental health professionals. Physicians' management of adolescent patients can be improved by further medical training, consultation, and collaboration with mental health professionals. Training in evidence-based treatment of depression is particularly warranted given physicians' limited knowledge of CBT.

    PreviousNext
    Back to top

    In this issue

    Canadian Family Physician
    Vol. 52, Issue 7
    1 Jul 2006
    • Table of Contents
    • Index by author
    Download PDF
    Article Alerts
    Sign In to Email Alerts with your Email Address
    Email Article

    Thank you for your interest in spreading the word on The College of Family Physicians of Canada.

    NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

    Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
    Managing depression in primary care: community survey.
    (Your Name) has sent you a message from The College of Family Physicians of Canada
    (Your Name) thought you would like to see the The College of Family Physicians of Canada web site.
    CAPTCHA
    This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.
    Citation Tools
    Managing depression in primary care: community survey.
    Kerry A Collins, Vicky V Wolfe, Sandra Fisman, JoAnne DePace, Margaret Steele
    Canadian Family Physician Jul 2006, 52 (7) 878-879;

    Citation Manager Formats

    • BibTeX
    • Bookends
    • EasyBib
    • EndNote (tagged)
    • EndNote 8 (xml)
    • Medlars
    • Mendeley
    • Papers
    • RefWorks Tagged
    • Ref Manager
    • RIS
    • Zotero
    Respond to this article
    Share
    Managing depression in primary care: community survey.
    Kerry A Collins, Vicky V Wolfe, Sandra Fisman, JoAnne DePace, Margaret Steele
    Canadian Family Physician Jul 2006, 52 (7) 878-879;
    Twitter logo Facebook logo Mendeley logo
    • Tweet Widget
    • Facebook Like
    • Google Plus One

    Jump to section

    • Article
    • eLetters
    • Info & Metrics
    • PDF

    Related Articles

    • No related articles found.
    • PubMed
    • Google Scholar

    Cited By...

    • No citing articles found.
    • Google Scholar

    Similar Articles

    Navigate

    • Home
    • Current Issue
    • Archive
    • Collections - English
    • Collections - Française

    For Authors

    • Authors and Reviewers
    • Submit a Manuscript
    • Permissions
    • Terms of Use

    General Information

    • About CFP
    • About the CFPC
    • Advertisers
    • Careers & Locums
    • Editorial Advisory Board
    • Subscribers

    Journal Services

    • Email Alerts
    • Twitter
    • LinkedIn
    • Instagram
    • RSS Feeds

    Copyright © 2025 by The College of Family Physicians of Canada

    Powered by HighWire