Depression in patients in general practice – and response

Abstract

"I have concerns about the article by Arroll et al (NZ Med J 2002; 115: 176-9). The title of this article is misleading. It suggests the study had the goal of looking at the prevalence of depression in an Auckland general practice. It turned out the article had different goals. The authors' prime goal was to study the abilities of general practitioners (GPs) to diagnose depression as compared to the gold standard of the Beck's Diagnostic Inventory scale. The second goal was to measure the prevalence of depression in Maori and non-Maori patient groups. The final goal was to compare the prescribing of antidepressants in these two groups of patients ..."