Survey on the non-psychiatric physician's ability of diagnosis and treatment of depression/anxiety disorders in general hospital

Abstract

Objective To investigate the status of the non-psychiatrist's diagnostic and therapeutic ability of depression/anxiety disorders in 57 General Hospitals. Methods 1 152 non psychiatric clinicians in 57 general hospitals were surveyed. A custom-made questionnaire included the training of mental health-related knowledge which the general hospital physicians received and typical anxiety/depression case analysis. Results Among 1 521 non-psychiatric clinicians, 596(51.74%) clinicians participated the training of psychiatry, 562(48.78%) participated the training of medical psychology and 230(20.97%) clinicians participated the training of Healthy Psychology. In professional setting, 59(5.12%) clinicians participated the training of psychotherapy, 255(22.14%) clinicians had attended related academic symposiums. 80(6.94%) clinicians believed that they understand the clinical display of anxiety/depression disorders, 52 (4.51%) clinicians expressed the understanding of diagnostic criteria of anxiety/depression disorders and its treatments, while 44(3.82%) clinicians only possessed the knowledge of anxiety/depression disorder treatment. In the typical case analysis, it revealed that 794 (68.89%) clinicians made accurate diagnosis, 458(57.68%)clinicians made a choice of medical treatment, 764(96.22%) clinicians chose psychotherapy, 29(3.65%) clinicians applied physical therapy , while 438(55.16%) clinicians combined drug therapy with one or more other therapeutic methods. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that the age(P=–0.093, Exp(B)=0.911)and work experience(P=–0.002, Exp(B)=1.080)significantly contribute to the diagnostic accuracy of non-psychiatrists. Conclusion The non-therapeutic psychiatric clinicians in general hospitals have certain basic knowledge of depression/anxiety disorders with lower level of diagnosis and treatment diagnosis and treatment.And there is bigger difference among different hospitals. Key words: Depression/anxiety disorders; General hospital; Diagnosis and treatment ability