The Journal of the American Board of Family Practice, Vol 12, Issue 2 120-127, Copyright © 1999 by American Board of Family Practice

ARTICLES

Detection and treatment of depressive syndromes in a rural island clinic

M. A. Thompson, J. Unutzer, W. J. Katon, J. P. Geyman, D. Gimlett and E. A. Walker
School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, USA.

BACKGROUND: Major depression is a serious and often persistent problem for 5 to 10 percent of patients in primary care. The detection and treatment of depression can be a particular challenge in rural settings. This study describes patterns of care for depression at a rural primary care clinic on an island off the coast of Washington State. METHODS: For a period of 2 months, 226 primary care patients were evaluated for depression using a two-stage screening method. Structured chart abstraction was conducted for patients meeting criteria for major depression or dysthymia. RESULTS: Ten percent of the study sample met Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Medical Disorders, fourth edition, criteria for major depression, 4 percent met criteria for dysthymia, and 8 percent met criteria for major depression and dysthymia. Of the patients who had a diagnosis of major depression or dysthymia by the PRIME-MD, approximately 50 percent had their condition detected by their primary care provider, and approximately 50 percent received guideline level antidepressant treatment. Less than 40 percent of patients whose depression was treated with antidepressants made more than two visits during the 8 weeks after the initial prescription. CONCLUSIONS: These findings are consistent with those from other primary care settings and suggest that there are many opportunities for improving the quality of care for depressed patients in rural primary care settings.