Anxiety and depression in a primary care clinic. Comparison of Diagnostic Interview Schedule, General Health Questionnaire, and practitioner assessments

Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1987 Feb;44(2):152-6. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.1987.01800140058008.

Abstract

Over one half of all persons seen in a primary care clinic were identified as having anxiety or depressive disorder by the primary care provider, the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), or the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS). In only about 5% of all patients were findings positive on all three assessments concurrently. Both the GHQ and the practitioners identified over 30% of all patients as having a disorder, while about 8% had one or more of five DIS anxiety or depressive disorders (major depression, dysthymia, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, or obsessive-compulsive disorder). Of the patients with DIS disorders 83% had positive GHQ scores, and 73% were identified by the practitioner as having a mental disorder.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anxiety Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Anxiety Disorders / epidemiology
  • Anxiety Disorders / psychology
  • Attitude of Health Personnel
  • Depressive Disorder / diagnosis*
  • Depressive Disorder / epidemiology
  • Depressive Disorder / psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mental Disorders / diagnosis
  • Mental Disorders / epidemiology
  • Mental Disorders / psychology
  • Middle Aged
  • Physicians, Family
  • Primary Health Care*
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Surveys and Questionnaires