Screening for Depression in Women at Drop-in Clinics
Author Information
Author(s): Ranja Stromberg, Estera Wernering, Anna Aberg-Wistedt, Anna-Karin Furhoff, Sven-Erik Johansson, Lars G Backlund
Primary Institution: Karolinska Institutet
Hypothesis
There is a high prevalence of depression among women visiting GPs' drop-in clinics.
Conclusion
The study found a high prevalence of previously undiagnosed depression among women visiting GPs' drop-in clinics.
Supporting Evidence
- The prevalence of depression was found to be 22.4% among the women screened.
- 43% of the depressed women had mild depression, while 53% had moderate depression.
- 69% of the depressed women mentioned mental symptoms during their visit.
Takeaway
Many women who visit the doctor for other health issues might actually be depressed, and doctors should ask about mental health more often.
Methodology
A two-stage screening method using Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI) was employed to assess depression in women visiting drop-in clinics.
Potential Biases
The GPs conducting the study were also involved in diagnosing the patients, which could lead to over-diagnosis.
Limitations
The study was limited to women who chose to visit two specific GPs, which may affect the generalizability of the results.
Participant Demographics
Women aged 18 to 75 years, with a mean age of 46.2 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.036
Confidence Interval
95% CI 15.6–29.2
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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