Psychosomatics 25: 593-600, 1984
Copyright
© 1984 Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine
Recognition of depression and anxiety by primary physicians
LAWRENCE S. LINN Ph.D.1, and
JOEL YAGER M.D.2
1 Research sociologist in the department of medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, School of Medicine
2 Professor of psychiatry, University of California, Los Angeles, School of Medicine
Ninety-five patients completed rating scales for anxiety and depression prior to their first visit to a primary care physician. Test scores were provided selectively to the physicians, and the medical charts were checked later for entries relating to anxiety or depression. Two thirds of the patients scored in the abnormal range on at least one scale. Physicians noted depression on charts at appropriate levels (27% of patients), but anxiety was much less frequently noted (9%). Chart notations (primarily of depression) were much more common for patients scoring high in both anxiety and depression. Informing physicians of either anxiety or depression scores did not change their rate of recognition of these problems. However, those informed of scores on both rating scales made substantially fewer chart notations.
