Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://doi.org/10.21256/zhaw-23870
Publication type: Article in scientific journal
Type of review: Peer review (publication)
Title: Swiss GPs’ preferences for antidepressant treatment in mild depression : vignette-based quantitative analysis
Authors: Hengartner, Michael P.
Neuner-Jehle, Stefan
Senn, Oliver
et. al: No
DOI: 10.1186/s12875-021-01621-7
10.21256/zhaw-23870
Published in: BMC Family Practice
Volume(Issue): 22
Issue: 261
Issue Date: 2021
Publisher / Ed. Institution: BioMed Central
ISSN: 1471-2296
Language: English
Subjects: GP; Primary care; Depression; Antidepressant; Prescribing; Treatment recommendation
Subject (DDC): 615: Pharmacology and therapeutics
616.8: Neurology, diseases of nervous system
Abstract: Background: GPs frequently prescribe antidepressants in mild depression. The aim of this study was to examine, how often Swiss GPs recommend antidepressants in various clinical presentations of mild depression and which factors contribute to antidepressant treatment recommendations. Methods: We conducted an online survey among Swiss GPs with within-subject effect analysis. Alternating case vignettes described a typical female case of mild depression according to International Classification of Diseases, 10th edition criteria, with and without anxiety symptoms and sleep problems. GPs indicated for each vignette their preferred treatments (several recommendations were possible). Additionally, we assessed GP characteristics, attitudes towards depression treatments, and elements of clinical decision-making. Results: Altogether 178 GPs completed the survey. In the initial description of a case with mild depression, 11% (95%-CI: 7%-17%) of GPs recommended antidepressants. If anxiety symptoms were added to the same case, 29% (23%-36%) recommended antidepressants. If sleep problems were mentioned, 47% (40%-55%) recommended antidepressants, and if both sleep problems and anxiety symptoms were mentioned, 63% (56%-70%) recommended antidepressants. Several factors were independently associated with increased odds of recommending antidepressants, specifically more years of practical experience, an advanced training in psychosomatic and psychosocial medicine, self-dispensation, and a higher perceived effectiveness of antidepressants. By contrast, a higher perceived influence of patient characteristics and the use of clinical practice guidelines were associated with reduced odds of recommending antidepressants. Conclusions: Consistent with depression practice guidelines, Swiss GPs rarely recommended antidepressants in mild depression if no co-indications (i.e., sleep problems and anxiety symptoms) were depicted. However, presence of sleep problems and anxiety symptoms, many years of practical experience, overestimation of antidepressants’ effectiveness, self-dispensation, an advanced training in psychosomatic and psychosocial medicine, and non-use of clinical practice guidelines may independently lead to antidepressant over-prescribing.
URI: https://digitalcollection.zhaw.ch/handle/11475/23870
Fulltext version: Published version
License (according to publishing contract): CC BY 4.0: Attribution 4.0 International
Departement: Applied Psychology
Organisational Unit: Psychological Institute (PI)
Appears in collections:Publikationen Angewandte Psychologie

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Hengartner, M. P., Neuner-Jehle, S., & Senn, O. (2021). Swiss GPs’ preferences for antidepressant treatment in mild depression : vignette-based quantitative analysis. BMC Family Practice, 22(261). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-021-01621-7
Hengartner, M.P., Neuner-Jehle, S. and Senn, O. (2021) ‘Swiss GPs’ preferences for antidepressant treatment in mild depression : vignette-based quantitative analysis’, BMC Family Practice, 22(261). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-021-01621-7.
M. P. Hengartner, S. Neuner-Jehle, and O. Senn, “Swiss GPs’ preferences for antidepressant treatment in mild depression : vignette-based quantitative analysis,” BMC Family Practice, vol. 22, no. 261, 2021, doi: 10.1186/s12875-021-01621-7.
HENGARTNER, Michael P., Stefan NEUNER-JEHLE und Oliver SENN, 2021. Swiss GPs’ preferences for antidepressant treatment in mild depression : vignette-based quantitative analysis. BMC Family Practice. 2021. Bd. 22, Nr. 261. DOI 10.1186/s12875-021-01621-7
Hengartner, Michael P., Stefan Neuner-Jehle, and Oliver Senn. 2021. “Swiss GPs’ Preferences for Antidepressant Treatment in Mild Depression : Vignette-Based Quantitative Analysis.” BMC Family Practice 22 (261). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-021-01621-7.
Hengartner, Michael P., et al. “Swiss GPs’ Preferences for Antidepressant Treatment in Mild Depression : Vignette-Based Quantitative Analysis.” BMC Family Practice, vol. 22, no. 261, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1186/s12875-021-01621-7.


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