International Journal of Neuro & Psychological Disorders

BARRIERS TO DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF DEPRESSION BY PRIMARY HEALTH CARE PHYSICIANS AT TABUK MILITARY HOSPITAL, SAUDI ARABIA

Manea N Al Habalany*1, Bander K Al Sulyman1, Abdullah A Al-shuhri2, Tarek M al-kurnas2, Mashael M aldawsari2

de_mny3@yahoo.com

Depression, Primary Health Care, Diagnosis, Treatment, Saudi Arabia

Depression is one of the most common causes of morbidity in the developing countries. It is seemed that there are many barriers to diagnose and treat it in primary care setting, but little research exists. To assess the barriers that facing Primary Health Care physicians to diagnose and treat depressed patients in Primary Health Care Centres (PHCCs). Cross sectional study. All PHCCs which serve Military personnel and their dependent at North West Armed Forces Hospital (NWAFH) Tabouk City, Saudi Arabia. All primary health care physicians who are available and working at the time of the study in PHCCs which belong to NWAFH. Interview questionnaire consist of personal and sociodemographic data of the physicians, organizational and patient's barriers to diagnose and treat of depression in primary care settings. 75 physicians responded and returned the questionnaires which represent all the physicians. 78% agreed that the diagnosis of depression is their responsibility and only 4% disagreed. 69.3% agreed that treatment of depression is their responsibility comparing with 9.3% who disagreed. 57.3 % agreed that lack of knowledge of diagnostic criteria of depression was a limiting factor while 73.3 % agreed that lack of knowledge of treatment of depression was another limiting factor. 90.6% agreed that the appointment time was too short for taking adequate history, 96% reported time was inadequate for them to provide counselling/ education, and 92% agreed that mental health professionals were not available within PHC setting. 90.7% of the respondents reported that patients or their families were reluctant to accept the diagnosis of depression and 88% reported that patients were reluctant to take antidepressants. Continuous medical education for the Health Care providers about depression and Provision of counseling services and antidepressant medications at primary care level. Improve the quality and integration of mental health referral services, and Effort to destigmatize depression may result in increased rate of diagnosis and treatment of depression in primary care setting and improving outcomes in this population.