An examination of the attitudes and practice of general practitioners in the diagnosis and treatment of depression in older people

Abstract

Selective Serotonin Re-Uptake Inhibitors are the preferred drugs in treating certain problematic cases of late-life depression. These results suggest there may be a greater propensity for GPs to prescribe SSRIs although further research is needed to clarify whether this finding can be generalised beyond this study. Most general practitioners felt confident in treating late-life depression, but older doctors, those who had been practising for longer and those without previous psychiatric training, may benefit most from further training.