Identification of psychiatric distress by primary care physicians

Evaluated the extent to which primary care physicians (PCPs) identification of psychiatric distress is related to a number of nonpsychopathological factors, and to assess the impact of depression on PCP identification of psychiatric distress. Two patient samples (aged 18-65 yrs) were chosen to explore these issues: 1) 123 patients not fulfilling any ICD-10-defined or subthreshold psychiatric diagnosis, and 2) 66 patients with an ICD-10 diagnosis of current depression. Identification of psychiatric distress by the PCP was associated with retirement among Ss without mental disorders but not among depressed Ss. Ss' negative overall health self-perception and severity of physical illness were significantly related to identification of psychiatric distress in the 2 groups. Ss with current depression, compared with those without, were 4.3 times more likely to be identified by PCPs as having psychiatric distress when adjusting for nonpsychopathological variables. Ss with depression and comorbid anxiety disorders were more likely to be recognized by the PCP as compared with those with pure depression. Among depressive symptoms, diurnal variation and symptoms related to suicidal tendencies were predictive of identification of psychiatric distress. ((c) 1998 APA/PsycINFO, all rights reserved)