Depression and Primary Care - Expanding the evidence base for diagnosis and treatment

16 June 2008

beyondblue: the national depression initiative has supported a supplement in the latest edition of the Medical Journal of Australia.

The supplement features new research studies which look at how depression is both perceived and treated in a range of primary care settings.

beyondblue CEO Leonie Young said: "It is important for beyondblue to fund research into depression and primary care - and to promote the findings to influence best practice - so that people who experience depression and anxiety can receive effective, evidence-based treatment.

"beyondblue has supported five MJA supplements since 2000 and we're planning several more including Depression and Chronic Illness, Depression and Substance Use, and Depression and Recovery."

• To view the entire current issue of the Medical Journal of Australia, go to www.mja.com.au
• See below for research papers in the current supplement.
• For more information about beyondblue research, contact beyondblue Research Liaison Manager Lisa Allwell - 03 9810 6100 or go to www.beyondblue.org.au

Meeting demand for psychological services for people with depression and anxiety: recent developments in primary mental health care
Justine R Fletcher, Bridget Bassilios, Fay Kohn, Lucio Naccarella, Grant A Blashki, Philip M Burgess and Jane E Pirkis - Med J Aust 2008; 188 (12): S107-S109.

What do general practitioners think depression is? A taxonomy of distress and depression for general practice
David M Clarke, Kay Cook, Graeme C Smith and Leon Piterman - Med J Aust 2008; 188 (12): S110-S113.

What can alert the general practitioner to people whose common mental health problems are unrecognised?
Kay A Wilhelm, Adam W Finch, Tracey A Davenport and Ian B Hickie - Med J Aust 2008; 188 (12): S114-S118.
 
Who is identified when screening for depression is undertaken in general practice? Baseline findings from the Diagnosis, Management and Outcomes of Depression in Primary Care (diamond) longitudinal study
Jane M Gunn, Gail P Gilchrist, Patty Chondros, Melina Ramp, Kelsey L Hegarty, Grant A Blashki, Dimity C Pond, Mike Kyrios and Helen E Herrman - Med J Aust 2008; 188 (12): S119-S125. 

The Mood Assessment Program: a computerised diagnostic tool for deriving management plans for mood disorders
Gordon B Parker, Kathryn Fletcher and Matthew P Hyett - Med J Aust 2008; 188 (12): S126-S128.

Impact of an educational intervention on general practitioners' skills in cognitive behavioural strategies: a randomised controlled trial
Grant A Blashki, Leon Piterman, Graham N Meadows, David M Clarke, Vasuki Prabaharan, Jane M Gunn and Fiona K Judd - Med J Aust 2008; 188 (12): S129-S132.

Coordinated care in the management of patients with unexplained physical symptoms: depression is a key issue
Rene G Pols and Malcolm W Battersby - Med J Aust 2008; 188 (12): S133-S137.

Preventing relapse of depression in primary care: a pilot study of the "Keeping the blues away" program   
Catherine A Howell, Deborah A Turnbull, Justin J Beilby, Charlotte A Marshall, Nancy Briggs and Wendy L Newbury - Med J Aust 2008; 188 (12): S138-S141.

Identifying the health and mental health information needs of people with coronary heart disease, with and without depression
Ciaran Pier, Kerrie A Shandley, Julie L Fisher, Frada Burstein, Mark R Nelson and Leon Piterman - Med J Aust 2008; 188 (12): S142-S144

Plenty of activity but little outcome data: a review of the "grey literature" on primary care anxiety and depression programs in Australia
Helen Christensen, Kathleen M Griffiths and Amelia Gulliver - Med J Aust 2008; 188 (12): S103-S106.