Improving Late-Life Depression Management in Primary Care
Author Information
Author(s): Tamara Sussman, Mark Yaffe, Jane McCusker, David Parry, Maida Sewitch, Lisa Van Bussel, Ilyan Ferrer
Primary Institution: McGill University
Hypothesis
What are the barriers to identifying and treating late-life depression in primary care settings, and what solutions are considered most important and feasible?
Conclusion
Health professionals believe that providing direct mental health support to family physicians and increasing their awareness of resources are key to improving the management of late-life depression.
Supporting Evidence
- Older adults prefer to seek treatment for depression in general health care settings rather than psychiatric settings.
- Depression is the most common late-life mental health disorder presenting in primary care.
- Many family physicians are comfortable managing adult depression but face organizational barriers.
Takeaway
Doctors want to help older people with depression, but they need better support and resources to do it effectively.
Methodology
A consensus development process involving a conference with health professionals to discuss barriers and solutions for managing late-life depression.
Potential Biases
Participants may have had a bias towards solutions that favor their professional roles.
Limitations
The sample of health professionals may not represent the broader population, and decision makers were underrepresented.
Participant Demographics
Participants included family physicians, psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, social workers, and decision-makers from Ontario and Quebec.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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