Background:
Depression is among the principle diseases that lead to disability. It has a negative impact on the individual's physical and functional condition and causes great suffering to family members. Its effects also incur great cost to the health system, some of which can be saved by adequate diagnosis and treatment. Nevertheless, the diagnosis and treatment of late-life depression and dysthymia by family physician is inadequate.
Objectives:
1) Examine whether elderly who are identified as suffering from depression or symptoms of depression (dysthymia) are known to their family physician; whether this fact is noted in their medical records; whether they are receiving antidepressant medications, and if so in what dosage.
2) Examine the confidence of family physicians in diagnosis and treatment of depression; and identify measures that can serve to improve the quality of care.
Methods:
1) Telephone interviews with the elderly, using a valid scale for the detection of depression (GDS-15-Telephone);
2) An examination of the medical records of those identified as suffering from depression;
3) Telephone interviews with their family physicians.
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