Dr M Cepoiu

Correspondence to: Dr M Cepoiu, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; monica.cepoiu@ucalgary.ca

QUESTION

How accurate are non-psychiatric physicians in recognising depression in their patients?

REVIEW SCOPE

Studies selected evaluated the accuracy of non-psychiatric physicians in recognising depression in adult patients who attended primary care facilities, emergency departments, or outpatient clinics, or were admitted to hospital. “Recognition” was ascertained directly by an explicit statement or rating of depression by the physician (physician diagnosis method) or indirectly by chart review indicating antidepressant medication prescription, referral to a mental health specialist, or identification of depressive symptoms (chart review method). The reference standard for depression was diagnosis by a psychiatrist or by research staff using a structured clinical …