Primary care patients' personal illness models for depression: a preliminary investigation

Background. Despite the fact that more than half of depressed persons are treated for this disorder by primary care physicians, depression is often under-recognized or treated inadequately. There is continued emphasis on effective treatment of depression in primary care patients, but little attentio...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Family practice 2001-06, Vol.18 (3), p.314-320
Main Authors: Brown, Charlotte, Dunbar-Jacob, Jacqueline, Palenchar, Deena R, Kelleher, Kelly J, Bruehlman, Richard D, Sereika, Susan, Thase, Michael E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation, Psychological
Adult
Attitude to Health
Causality
Chronic Disease
Coping strategies
Depression
Depressive Disorder - diagnosis
Depressive Disorder - etiology
Depressive Disorder - prevention & control
Depressive Disorder - psychology
Diagnosis
Family Practice
Female
General practice
Humans
illness cognitions
Internal-External Control
Male
Models, Psychological
Patient Education as Topic
Patients
Pilot Projects
Pilot studies
primary care patients
Primary Health Care
Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
Recurrence
Self Care - methods
Self Care - psychology
Self Concept
Surveys and Questionnaires
Treatment
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Summary:Background. Despite the fact that more than half of depressed persons are treated for this disorder by primary care physicians, depression is often under-recognized or treated inadequately. There is continued emphasis on effective treatment of depression in primary care patients, but little attention has been paid to the role of the depressed person's illness cognitions in coping with this disorder. Given the often recurring and chronic nature of depression, the individual's self-management strategies may be critical to effective treatment, recovery and remaining well. Objectives. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine whether primary care patients' personal illness cognitions for depression are associated with depression coping strategies and treatment-related behaviour. Methods. Forty-one primary care patients with depressive symptoms or disorder completed interviews and questionnaires assessing illness cognitions for depression, depression coping strategies and other treatment-related behaviour. Descriptive statistics are used to present patients' illness cognitions for depression. t-tests and correlational analyses were completed to assess the relationship between illness cognitions, depression coping strategies and treatment-related behaviour. Results. Preliminary data describing illness cognitions for depression are presented. Participants' illness cognitions for depression were significantly associated with current and past treatment-seeking behaviour, medication adherence and coping strategies. Conclusions. Although preliminary, these findings indicate that patients' understanding of depression and its consequences are associated with how they manage this illness. Future research is needed to examine the mediating and moderating effects of illness cognitions for depression on medication adherence and other self-management behaviours of depressed primary care patients. Knowledge about primary care patients' personal illness models will aid in the development of adherence interventions, self-management training and support services appropriate to patients' needs in the primary care setting.
ISSN:0263-2136
1460-2229
DOI:10.1093/fampra/18.3.314